LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 






Bible Nights: 

MGKendree Slass - Meeting Talks, 



0, P, FITZGERALD, LEADER, 



"Did not our heart bum within us while he talked with us 
by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures ?" (Luke 
xxxiv. 32.) 






9^7 



nashville, tenn.: 
Southern Methodist Publishing House. 

1887. 



THE LIBRARY 

Of congress! 

WASHINGTON] 




1?K\ 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1887, 

By the Book Agents of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 

in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 






M(3 6)K 



% A WORD AT THE START, fe 

\ 

These McKendree Class-meeting Talks are given to the 
public in this form in the hope that the holy fire that has 
burned so often in that circle of Christian friends may kin- 
dle in the hearts of others who may read these pages. 

A sacred and tender interest attaches to these Talks from 
the reflection that the lips of some of the beloved Chris- 
tian friends whose words are here recorded are sealed in 
death. They all died well, and it may not be out of place 
to make grateful mention of the fact that so far as is known 
no living member of the McKendree Class has denied the 
faith. Wherever scattered abroad, an affectionate greeting 
is hereby extended to them. 

As it was thought desirable to preserve as far as possible 
the spirit of these services, remarks are reported here and 
there that have no special exegetical or hortatorv value, 

(3) 



A WORD AT THE START. 



but will serve a good purpose in indicating the method fol- 
lowed during these toilsome but blessed years, during which 
we have met with the Lord and with one another on Tues- 
day nights in that quiet room in McKendree Church. The 
reports are wholly from memory, and of course do not as- 
sume to be strictly literal. 

The hope is indulged that these chapters may prove use- 
ful— 

First. As a help to pastors in furnishing hints for prayer- 
meeting services. 

Second. To class-leaders, in the presentation of practical 
topics for Christian meditation, and suggestion as to the 
method of conducting the class-meeting in such a way as 
to make it permanently interesting and profitable. The 
method pursued in the McKendree Class-meeting is about 
this: The topic — a passage of Holy Scripture bearing di- 
rectly on Christian experience — is announced a week in 
advance, with an injunction to study its meaning, imbibe 
its spirit, and make personal application of it with a view 
to growth in grace, The class-meeting service is opened 
with a hymn and prayer. Then the topic is stated by the 
Leader, and (usually sitting) the brethren and sisters pres- 
ent speak out what they think and feel on the line of Chris- 
tian truth and experience indicated. The exercises are va- 
ried with snatches of holy song and with special prayer as 
occasion may suggest. There is no constraint, formality, 
or stiffness; all is easy, natural, pleasant — the conversation 



A WORD AT THE START. 



of a company of Christian friends who have met for the 
one purpose of Christian culture, the Bible their text-book 
and the Holy Spirit its interpreter to mind and heart. This 
method insures perennial freshness to the class-meeting, for 
the Bible can never be exhausted: its words yield new and 
deeper meanings the more they are studied, it guides and 
inspires the believer in the attainment of all that is possi- 
ble to a progressive Christian experience. 

It is wonderful to mark how in such a service the Bible 
flashes its light upon the Christian life on the one hand, 
and how Christian experience illustrates the Bible on the 
other. A class-meeting service thus conducted need never 
lose its interest so long as the Bible remains to us and the 
spiritual wants, yearnings, and aspirations of believers in 
this world of trouble and pain and sorrow require that they 
shall edify and comfort one another in the blessed fellow- 
ship of the gospel. From time to time the exercises are 
changed into a praise -service or for the interchange of 
present Christian experience on broad and general lines. 
But it has been found that the practical Bible topic is the 
one feature that secures unabating interest and benefit. 
Is not this the new element in the class-meeting to which 
we are providentially directed? With it cannot the fires 
that burned so brightly in an earlier time be re-kindled 
throughout the Church, to spread a wider illumination than 
ever before ? 

Third. For private reading and meditation I trust this 



6 A WORD AT THE START. 



little volume may also be found useful. Many who live in 
out-of-the-way places where they are deprived of Christian 
fellowship, and afflicted believers who are cut off from the 
social meetings of the Church, may find in it helpful words 
to cheer them on their way to glory and to God. 

Fourth That these Talks may contribute in some meas- 
ure, however small, toward a rehabilitation of the class- 
meeting among us is a prayer that rises from my heart to 
the God of our fathers as I send it forth into the world. 
Gracious Lord, bless the truth that is in it, and pardon the 
unworthiness of the offering of thy servant ! 

0. P. Fitzgerald. 

Nashville, 1887. 






#*s## 



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THE TOPICS. g£ 



* 

PAGE 

JTotf 6roz> Draws Us to Himself. 9 

The Chbistly Mind 13 

The Good Fight of Faith 17 

The Christian Soldier 21 

Grasping the Blessing 26 

The Best that Bemaineth 30 

The Best that Bemaineth 33 

The Coxditiox of Fruitfulxess 39 

The Victory of Faith 43 

The Bible Our Guide 47 

The Bible Our Guide 51 

All Thixgs Working for Good 55 

All Thixgs Working for Good 60 

Perfect Trust Brings Perfect Peace 63 

(7) 



8 THE TOPICS, 



PAGE 



Delight in the Law of the Lobd ... 69 
Christian Love the Evidence of the 

New Life 74 

The Certainties of Prayer 78 

Perfecting Holiness 83 

The Christly Mind 88 

Heart-Purity 92 

Unconscious Processes of Grace 98 

Looking Unto Jesus 102 

Jesus the Door - 107 

Blessedness of the Poor in Spirit . . Ill 

Christ's Joy Our Joy 115 

Hallowing God's Name 119 

Spiritual Restoration 123 

Leaves Only 127 

The Incarnation 132 

Laborers Together with God 136 

Growing in Grace 140 

Edification of the Believer 144 

Working with God 151 

Working with God I 55 

Working Out Salvation 158 

The Best Gifts I 63 



Bible Nights. 



(5 ^ggg gg9A^gMP 



<gjej| ^* FIRST NIGHT, ~- ^ 
How God Draws Us to Himself. 



The Topic: u Hfo man can come to me, except the Father 
which hath sent me draw him." John vi. 44. 



The Leader. Two fundamental truths of religion are 
here implied and declared. It is implied that all men are 
alienated from God — in other words, there is an implicit 
statement of the doctrine of natural depravity. It is de- 
clared that God makes the overture for our salvation. The 
complement of this text is John iii. 16: u For God so 
loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoso- 
ever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 
AVe love him because he first loved us. The great attrac- 
tion is the cross. All gracious influence comes through the 
atonement. It seems to me that God has been drawing me 
all my life. From the first dawn of my moral conscious- 
ness I have felt the movings of the Holy Spirit. The 
agencies of his love have followed me always to this hour. 
There has been no compulsion, but gracious attraction. 

(9) 



10 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



There is unspeakable comfort in the thought that God be- 
gins this work of salvation in us and for us. That is a 
guarantee that nothing can defeat it if we ourselves do not 
willfully draw back to perdition. All the drawings take 
me the other way. God in Christ is precious to me. 

Brother H. I cannot remember when I did not feel 
the influence of the Holy Spirit. Reared as I was in a 
religious household, this was but a natural result. The 
prayers and example of my parents impressed me with a 
conviction of the truth of Christianity, and I yielded to 
the internal suggestions of the Spirit of grace, and was 
drawn to Christ as my Savior. Of this I have no doubt. 
I love God's service. I love his house. I love his people, 
I love the society and conversation of Christians. This ex- 
perience grows deeper and sweeter to me. My sky is clear. 

Hymn: O to grace how great a debtor 
Daily I'm constrained to be! 
Let thy goodness, like a fetter, 
Bind my wandering heart to thee. 

Brother B. I believe in two things which may seem 
on the surface to be incompatible — total depravity, and the 
transmission of divine grace from one generation to anoth- 
er of those that love God and keep his commandments. 
It was my happy fortune, in the Christian family to which 
I belonged, to be a witness of the truth of this promise. 
The regenerating grace I needed met me at the line of ac- 
countability and drew me to Christ. God's word is true. 
I have been drawn, kept, guided, and blessed until now, 
and God will finish the good work that he begun in me. 

Brother R. I was drawn to the Savior and to a relig- 
ious life by the direct operation of the Holy Spirit upon 
my heart. My conscience was aroused. I felt my sinful- 



FIRST SIGHT. 11 



ness, and was plunged into deep distress. This inward 
struggle lasted for nearly three months, until I was pre- 
pared to make a full surrender to God; and lying low at 
the foot of the cross, I was humble enough to accept salva- 
tion as the gift of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
The conflict was long and sharp, but the peace that I found 
was sweet — and it abides. 

Hymn: Savior, more than life to me. 

Brother L. I am so weak, so sinful, so inclined toward 
evil, that it is only through the wonderful loving-kindness 
and tender mercy of my Father in heaven that I have the 
least hope of salvation. By his grace I have been drawn 
to Jesus, and though most unworthy, I do feel that he is 
indeed our Father. Pray for me — I want to realize more 
fully the sense of sonship with God. 

Hymn: Jesus sought me when a stranger. 

Sister B. [with beaming face]. God has been so good 
to me all my life that I could but love him. 

Hymn: How happy are they who their Savior obey! 

Brother B. Four years ago I was converted to God. 
It was a miracle. [All true conversions are in a certain 
sense miracles.] I had previously thought I was a Chris- 
tian, but I was mistaken. Beading with my family one 
night from the eighth chapter of Bomans, I came to the 
verse: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that ice 
are the children of God." This was what I did not possess— 
it was what I wanted. I wanted a demonstration, a cer- 
tainty. I sought this witness and I found it. The circum- 
stances were such that I feel sure I can never doubt. 
AYhen I found it I wanted to tell everybody, and I could 



12 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



face my most wicked and scoffing friends and tell them I 
knew that I was a child of God, for I had the witness in 
myself. 

The Leader. The true way to keep this blessing is to 
keep telling it. 

Hymn: My God is reconciled, 

His pard'ning voice I hear. 

Sister C. The most distinct special influence in drawing 
me to Christ was my mother taking me with her in her se- 
cret prayers when I was a child. I always felt a void within 
until my heart received the Savior. God drew me all the 
time. 

The Leader. The Father in heaven and the mother on 
earth — how sacred the association ! how potent the con- 
junction of saving influences ! 

Brother F. It seemed to be a special providence of 
God that led me to Christ. I was unbelieving and care* 
less, when a new preacher visited the place where I lived. 
I was somehow attracted to him, and was moved to request 
him to preach from a text in Eevelation vi. 17: "The 
great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?" 
That sermon awakened me, and I was led-to Christ. Noth- 
ing is more certain to me than that the Father drew me 
to my Savior— drew me by his Spirit and his providence. 

Brother S. There would have been no excuse for me 
had I not been a Christian. I had praying parents, and 
all my early life was passed in the midst of the best relig- 
ious associations. During the war I lost ground, but my 
Lord in his mercy drew me back to the old paths, in which 
I am now walking, happy and hopeful. 

Hymn: How firm a foundation. 



SECOND NIGHT S 

The Christly Mind. 



The Topic: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in 
Christ Jesus." Phil. ii. 5. (The context was read as explana- 
tory.) 



The Leader. It is a solemn and thrilling thought that 
we are really called to have the same mind — disposition, 
will — that was in the Son of God. Essential identity of 
nature is promised as the basis of participation in his eter- 
nal blessedness and glory. The mind that was in Christ 
was humility, self-sacrifice, and obedience. He stooped to 
us to lift us up. If we have his mind we will be ready 
to help the lowly, the forsaken, the outcast. Humility is 
said to be the chiefest charm of holiness. The world falls 
in love with it, and it pleases God. Self-sacrifice is Christ- 
like, and in a world like this it is demanded of all Christ's 
followers. Obedience is the final test of the mind that 
was in Christ Jesus. True obedience is not grudging, but 
joyful. Like Jesus, the truly obedient Christian finds it 
to be his meat and drink to do the will of his Father 
which is in heaven. My thoughts and prayers during the 
past week have revolved around these three points — hu- 
militv, self-sacrifice, obedience. My desire for Christ-like- 
CIS) 



14 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



ness has been intensified. I long to be like Jesus, to do 
like hirn, and to be with him. Identity of nature, ac- 
quired here, I trust will prepare me for the time when I 
shall see him face to face. Face to face ! My soul is at 
once humbled and enraptured at the thought. I have a 
joyful hope that I shall be lifted to this blessedness — 

In rapturous awe on him to gaze, 

Who bought the sight for me, 
And shout, and wonder at his grace 

To aU eternity ! 

Brother S. This text is a call to us to attain the per- 
fection of Christian experience. The model is a perfect 
model. Be ye perfect as your Father which is in heaven is 
perfect. The gospel proposes great things for us here and 
hereafter. Yes, here on earth we are to have this mind 
that was in Christ Jesus. I gratefully bear witness that 
we can be emptied of self and filled with God. In this 
experience I find unspeakable joy. The condescension 
and love of God are infinite, and we must take care not to 
doubt or draw back because his grace so far exceeds, our 
deservings. 

Brother K. That Christ should empty himself of his 
glory, and take upon him the form of a servant, and suf- 
fer and die for his enemies, is the marvel. Now, being 
reconciled by his death, much more shall we be saved by 
his life. The injunction of the text implies the promise 
of grace to attain. The desire I find in my heart for this 
likeness to Christ assures me that I shall reach it. The 
thought stirs my heart with grateful joy. 

Brother B. I make most progress and feel most joy in 
my Christian experience when I am following Christ in 
practical efforts to do good. In conducting a service last 



SECOND NIGHT. 15 



Sunday with a direct purpose to honor the Savior in the 
salvation of souls, my heart was warmed and strengthened 
greatly. The infirmities of the body hinder me in my 
progress toward the Christ-likeness that excites my desire, 
but I love him, and above all things wish to be like him. 

The Leader. There is no record that Jesus was ever 
sick, but he was hungry, tired, lonely, sorrowing, and 
knew in his human nature what human infirmity is. He 
is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and is a 
merciful high-priest over the house of God. As we are to 
share his thought, his love, his work, his glory, so he 
shares our infirmities. He shares our humiliation, and 
we share his exaltation. You may get nearer to him in 
your weakness than you could in any other way. His 
touch turns every thing into blessing. 

Sister C. I fall far short of the Christ-like life that at- 
tracts me with its beauty, but I do find in self-abnegation 
and Christian service an enjoyment superior to any other. 
I ask the prayers of the class. 

Brother T. I lack that perfect humility without which 
I know I shall not be properly equipped for the work to 
which God has called me as a preacher of the gospel. 

The Leader. A minister of the gospel, of all men, 
must have this mind that was in Christ Jesus. He must 
be humble. It is only when he is thus humble that he 
can be exalted to the higher experiences of the Christian 
life and endued with all its power, AVrestle and prevail 
here, my brother, and you will be strong forever. 

Brother L. I am seeking this conformity to Jesus, but 
my progress is very slow. It is the work of a life-time to 
attain the mind that was in Christ Jesus. 

The Leader. Yes, you may grow in grace and knowl- 



16 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



edge all your life. The horizon of Christian experience 
broadens interminably. But do not think that your ad- 
vance must necessarily be slow. Growth is rapid under 
proper conditions. Conformity to Christ is a present at- 
tainment for you. All things can be done through him. 
His Spirit molds a willing soul into his image now. 

Brother S. My fiercest temptations came upon me 
after I had joined the Church and honestly sought to fol- 
low Christ. 

The Leader. That is not an uncommon experience. 
We must fight the good fight of faith. Besist the devil, 
and he will flee from you. Faith is your shield, quench- 
ing all the fiery darts of the wicked. 

Brother E. I am trying to live as I would wish to die. 
I am an old man, and as I hope soon to be with Christ for- 
ever, I want to be like him now. 

The Leader. Love him, and you will be like him. 
Love is assimilative. Study his teaching, walk in his foot- 
steps, commune with him in prayer, and you will be 
changed into the same image from glory to glory as by the 
Spirit of the Lord. 








eS| EB- THIRD NIGHT, >e -§E 
The Good Fight of Faith. 



The Topic : "Fight the good fight of faith: 1 1 Tim. vi. 12. 



The Leader. We must fight if we would reign. The 
kingdom of God is opposed by the kingdom of darkness. 
Light and darkness, good and evil, are in perpetual con- 
flict in this world. Each human soul is a battle-field. As 
a boy, I had a natural fondness for fighting just for the 
pleasure of it. Perhaps it was in my Irish blood. When 
I was converted this combativeness was turned in a dif- 
ferent direction, and ever since I have been fighting sin. 
I want to help drive it out of this world. My experience 
has impressed upon me the truth that we must be aggress- 
ive in this good fight of faith. We must hate sin, and at- 
tack it wherever we can give it a blow. A negative, inof- 
fensive sort of religion is not suited to a world like this. 
We must be aggressive. We are told to abhor that which 
is evil. If we do truly abhor it we will fight it in no half- 
hearted way. I am encouraged to go on fighting this good 
fight of faith— faith that believes all God has revealed— 
faith that claims all that God has promised — faith that 
strengthens us to do all that God has commanded. I feel 
2 (17) 



18 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



it to be a good fight. I receive continual help, and confi- 
dently expect final victory. As the great Napoleon was lead- 
ing his hosts over the Alps, a drummer lost his footing in 
the snow and fell down, down into a death-valley from which 
he could never go out. At the bottom he found footing 
again, and looking up he saw the grand army filing away 
out of sight. Before wrapping himself in his winding- 
sheet of snow he beat a last tete d'Armee for the great Cap- 
tain. So, as a soldier of Jesus Christ, wherever I may be 
placed in the fight, or wherever I may fall, I hope to give 
a true heart-beat for the Captain of our salvation. [Amen.] 

Brother E. I have always found the Christian life a 
conflict, and I expect it will always be so. But I expect 
continual victory as well as continual fighting. I have 
surely gained strength since I first began to fight this good 
fight. Some things that gave me much trouble at first do 
not affect me now. I want courage — courage to obey God 
promptly when he speaks to me. I have never had a 
happier day than this. With a Christian friend I spent 
the afternoon in visiting a number of poor families, some 
of whom had been driven from their homes by the high 
waters of the Cumberland River. In every house I had 
courage to read a few words from the Bible and offer a 
prayer. I was not seeking happiness, but trying to do 
good. But the blessing came, and I am happy in God, and 
joyful in hope of laying hold on eternal life. [Amen.] 

Brother L. I find it at times difficult to realize that 
God does love me so that he will pass by my unworthiness, 
and help me to fight the good fight, and lay hold on 
eternal life. I have had a steady, hard battle with the 
world all the time. What I most desire is such a conscious- 
ness of God's presence and power within me as will give 



THIRD NIGHT, 19 



me constantly the sense of security and the assurance of 
victory. [Amen.] 

Brother S. Two thoughts give me comfort. One is, 
that we cannot fail to gain the victory if we will only fight. 
We can do all things through Christ. The other is, that 
heaven will be sweeter and ampler in the range of its joys 
because of the conflicts through which we fight our way to 
the skies. We are thereby being prepared for the place 
which Jesus hath gone to prepare for us. 

Brother B. I have found the best means of repelling 
the enemy and making successful advance in the Christian 
life is to be busy in working for Christ. Every effort of 
this sort I make gives me both fresh courage and fresh 
strength. In trying to aid my Baptist brethren in a spe- 
cial service on Sunday, I was greatly refreshed. To-day I 
sought to draw the attention of an irreligious friend to re- 
ligion by a short conversation in my office, and, whatever 
may be the result to him, my own heart was blessed. 

Sister C. When I keep busy in Christian work all goes 
well ; temptation is forestalled, and I have a realization of 
the presence and supporting grace of my Lord. I want 
more faith, more courage, more perseverance. Pray for me. 

Sister B. I have always found it necessary to struggle 
hard to maintain a Christian life, but I have always been 
helped. Nothing has been more plainly taught me than 
that my only safety and peace are to be found in the way 
of active Christian service. I do earnestly wish to do good, 
and hope to gain eternal life at last. 

Brother S. I enlisted in this army about three years 
ago, and though sometimes defeated, I have never surren- 
dered, and, by God's help, I never will. [Amen.] These 
class-meetings have been a help to me. 



20 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



Brother H. When I began this fight I enlisted for the 
war. I took Jesus as rny leader for time and for eternity. 
The wiles of the devil are many. We must keep on the 
whole armor of God, and watch as well as pray. Any un- 
guarded point will be attacked. 

The Leader. Yes, we must be watchful; but let us be 
watchful in aggressive warfare. Don't wait for the enemy 
to attack you — attack him and rout him. Stonewall Jack- 
son's tactics are the best— he kept the enemy on the watch. 

Brother S. When I was a soldier I could not fight so 
well alone. The touch of a comrade's hand, or the sound 
of his voice, gave me new courage when hard pressed in a 
fight. I find it so in my spiritual warfare. I get new 
strength from Christian fellowship here from week to 
week. My mother was God's recruiting officer — she en- 
listed me. She has been transferred to the skies, and I 
have no other thought but to be faithful until death brings 
my discharge, and then to join her there. 

The Leader. Yes, we fight better when we fight to- 
gether. One can chase a thousand, two can put ten thou- 
sand to flight. The increment of power in properly asso- 
ciated Christian workers is wonderful. 

Mr. M. I have come in again to your class-meeting be- 
cause I was instructed and felt strengthened by my visit 
last week. My purpose to be a Christian has been con- 
firmed, and the way seems clearer. 

The Leader. God is surely leading you. You have 
but one thing to do— follow Christ. Commit yourself un- 
reservedly to him for this world and forever. He will 
give you victory in the good fight to which he is calling 
you. God help you to lay hold on eternal life by faith 
now! [Amen.] 



-^V-;|s 



-FOURTH NIGHT.^ e@K- 



The Christian Soldier, 



The Topic (continued;: "A good soldier of Jesus Christ:'' 2 
Tim. ii. 3. 

The Leader. A good soldier must be well drilled. The 
disciplined army will win the battle. The Federal caval- 
ry, which in our late war was at first so inefficient, was at 
last brought under such thorough discipline that it became 
a mighty factor in the determination of the issue. As far 
as possible our religious lives ought to be systematized. 
We ought to improve in the facility and force with which 
we do the Lord's work. "Practice makes perfect" is a 
wise saying. If you pray in public; if you sing; if you 
manage Church finance— whatever you do in the way of 
Christian service should show steady improvement. Even 
your devotions should come under the operation of this 
law. Faith takes a readier and stronger grasp when the 
habit of believing prayer is established. This suggests 
the importance of an early start in the Christian life. 
Early enlistments are the best. Our young people should 
be brought into the Church, and drilled in all the activi- 
ties and devotions of Christian work and worship. I ear- 
nestly desire to do all my work better as my experience 

' (21) 



22 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



enlarges. I want to have deeper spiritual insight, clear- 
er thought, more fervency in prayer, and more vigor in 
working. It ought to be so, for this is the will of the 
Lord. [Amen.] 

Brother E. The Holy Spirit is the source of all that 
makes a good soldier of Jesus Christ. If we forget this, 
we sink into self-sufficiency, and lose our strength. 

Brother L. The leader has spoken of the importance 
to the soldier of thorough drilling. I agree with him, and 
he will agree with me when I express the opinion that 
what our Christian people still more need to make them 
Christian soldiers is actual fighting. The drill is impor- 
tant — the battle is absolutely necessary. We have some 
drill — not much. We have (I may almost say) no fighting 
at all of an outward character. To be sure, the negative, 
passive Christian of the day is supposed to struggle against 
his own evil passions and his temptations. I grant that 
he does that, and with fair success; and I admit this is 
one side of the Christian warfare. It is the drill, and is 
figuratively called fighting. But it is time that the civili- 
zation of the age, under Christian influence, should recog- 
nize the civil duty of repressing with a strong arm the pre- 
vailing vices of the times. Our cities teem with gambling 
hells, in open violation of public laws; and with drinking 
saloons, conducted in violation of law. These places ore 
snares for the feet of our young men and of our older 
men; their unlawful and hurtful character is open and no- 
torious. And yet it is true, as I heard a Presbyterian min- 
ister recently say in a Wednesday -night lecture, "The 
Christian people of this city lie prone and helpless, and 
suffer their own laws to be trampled in the dust before 
their eyes, without the courage to lift up a voice of pro- 



FOURTH SIGRT. 23 



Allusion has been made to the Christian warfare 
as portrayed in Epli. vi. 12: "We wrestle not against 
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, 
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against 
spiritual wickedness in high places/' That is, it is not 
a struggle of man with man, as in ordinary war- 
fare, or in the games from which the apostle often draws 
similitudes; but it is against the wickedness of the world, 
upheld by the principalities, and powers, and rulers of the 
darkness of this world. It is " against the wiles of the 
devil," as expressed in the preceding verse. It is against 
" spiritual wickedness in high places." But I am not 
5ed to have the warfare so spiritualized as that we 
shall lose sight of the body and the tangible realities of 
Lrits are yet in the body, and our life in the 
world. Let us give actual battle to the enemy that can he 
seen, who is seeking both the souls and bodies of our sons 
and ourselves, to destroy them for the life that now is seen 
and temporal, and that which is as yet unseen and is eter- 
nal. The Church is inert; it is sunk in worldly indiffer- 
ence and cowardice. I speak of the Church generally, not 
of ours in particular. The world lies in wickedness, and 
the Church in worldliness. It is our duty as Christian citi- 
zens — Christian sovereigns— to insist on the enforcement 
of the laws against vice-promoting institutions, and against 
the promotion of vice; and it is our duty to promote the pas- 
sage of more effective laws, if requisite to the suppression 
^i vice. The Church needs something besides nursing 
mothers and teachers. It needs men, fighting men, "strong 
in the Lord, and in the power of his might,'' u clad in 
the whole armor of God " — not for a dress-parade, but for 
battle. I confess I am impatient with the tame, persuasive 



24 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



style of our popular gospel. The Christian citizens have 
rights which the men of the world are bound to respect. 
They have a right to demand that the gambling hell shall 
be closed, and the drinking saloon, and other places of de- 
bauchery. I have little respect for the Christian warfare 
which does not include these strongholds of the devil in 
its objects of attack. 

Brother H. During the war I noticed that each regi- 
ment was what its Colonel made it. A clear-headed, brave 
officer, who looked carefully after the wants of his men, 
and enforced strict discipline, was the man who was sent 
to the front in an emergency, and helped to win victories. 
The faithful pastor who enforces the discipline of the 
Church, the faithful Sunday-school superintendent or 
teacher who is always at his post, are the ones who achieve 
success. There is, I fear, a sad lack of discipline in the 
militant Church of our Lord Jesus Christ in many places, 
and consequent loss of moral power. 

Sister C. Obedience is the first duty of a soldier. We 
must obey our Captain's orders, which are to be found in 
the Bible. In it our duties are prescribed, and our armor 
described. Simple, unquestioning obedience is the one 
condition of pleasing him. Surely he will give us strength 
to fight the battle to which he calls us. [Amen.] 

Brother S. Our Leader does not send us, but leads us 
into the battle; his presence insures our safety and tri- 
umph. None can pluck us out of his hand. In carnal 
warfare the bravest soldier may fail or fall, but in this 
Christian conflict fidelity guarantees success to all. I ex- 
pect trials, but hope by God's grace to bear them. I ex- 
pect fightings against the world, the flesh, and the devil, 
and would not have it otherwise. God's way of salvation 



FO UETH SIGHT. 25 



is best, and I would not change it if I could. The bless- 
edness of the heavenly security and rest will be enhanced 
by the dangers and toils through which we must pass on 
our way to the city of God. 

Brother E. When the high waters abate I expect to 
go to Mississippi, and may not meet with you again for 
some months — perhaps never. I have been a soldier of 
Jesus Christ fifty-four years, and I can sing with a glad 
heart to-night that "I am glad I am in this army/' My 
earnest prayer is for a revival in McKendree Church that 
will bring in a great multitude of recruits. If I should 
not meet with you here again, I rejoice in the hope that 
we shall meet in heaven. [Amen.] 




CK<©^3) 



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s^s 



^fj ^CFIFTH NIGHTS. f§^ 
Grasping the Blessing. 



The Topic: "Lay hold on eternal life." 1 Tim. vi. 12. 



The Leader. The victor in the Olympic* games to 
which the apostle refers grasped the prize at the end of 
the contest. The hope of winning this prize was the in- 
centive to exertion. God appeals to this love of reward 
to stimulate us to earnestness in the Christian life. Eter- 
nal life is the gift of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
By grace we are saved. But grace does not save us with- 
out our own effort. No man ever obtained eternal life who 
did not lay hold of it for himself. God hath not appoint- 
ed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation. In appointing 
the end, he appointed also the means. If we do not use 
the means we will miss the end. Eternal life is eternal 
union with Jesus Christ. He is the living vine of which 
all true believers are living branches. This union begins 
on earth, and never ends. Read 1 John v. 11, 12: "And 
this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and 
this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life" This 
is a present blessing linking itself to eternity. We know 
it is ours. Read again 1 John v. 10: "He that believeth on 
(26) 



FIFTH NIGHT. 27 



the StmcfC '-." This after. 

mpany with another rneniber of the class, I visited a 
Christian friend who lies sick near the city. He is b 

7 of which are most | 

ful, and a fatal termination is certain. He has been pros- 

. months, and has suffered intensely II 

the time. Bat Long ago he laid hold of Christ. He has 

and very useful member of his Church, and 

that the day of trial has come, his faith is ' 

He is patient, serene, submissive to God. Hi? anchor 

He lias the witness in himself. This is whs 
need for the pn i Lwell- 

i hope of glory. The fall will e 

by ar. ] 

ynuEB B. Twenty -seven years 
months bef re I joined this Church, I laid hold of the hope 
:bre me, and I have never let go. I have sometimes 
been in hea i .1 manifold temptat: ns, but I have 

never donbted my c n. Having been kept until 

this hour, my hope is strong that I shall at last reach 
heaven an upon eternal life in the fullest sense of 

3d words. 
•teer H. I want to follow Christ, and serve him be- 
ve him, no1 ecanse I want : get fa heav- 

en. As Chris::. 1 -ives are hid with Christ in 

It is a true life, though hidden from the world in itss 
The secret of the Lord is with : 
fear him. We I :.: we have passed from d 

unto life. Yes, we know. Many years ago I laid hold of 
i 1 to-night I feel within my thankful 
: the pulsations 01 this life. Thanks be to Gk 
the unspeakable gift ! [Amen.] 



28 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



Sister C. The grasp of my faith seems feeble at times. 
I want a more abundant life in the Lord— more faith, more 
love, more fruitf illness. I ask the help of your prayers. 

The Leader. It is well for us to feel our weakness 
sometimes, lest we forget our dependence on God for all 
things. " When I am weak then I am strong," is the gra- 
cious paradox that every true disciple of Jesus must learn. 

Brother B. The thought encourages me that this gift 
of eternal life is free. Whosoever will may have it. The 
simplicity of the terms of its bestowment is also a pleasant 
thought to me. It is simple choice, taking freely what 
is offered freely. The blessedness of the whole matter is 
crowned by the certainty of our knowledge of the fact that 
we have the blessing; God testifying of his gifts. These 
thoughts give me much comfort. 

Brother A. (a visitor). I was converted when a boy at 
a camp-meeting. As I was with other penitents kneeling 
with a broken heart, a brother kneeled by me, and taking 
my hand in his hand, sung: 

Father, I stretch my hands to thee; 

Xo other help I know; 
If thou withdraw thyself from me 

Ah! whither shall I go? 

Involuntarily I stretched forth my hand as I listened, and at 
that moment I felt the touch of the atoning blood of Jesus, 
and entered into life. During the war I lost ground in the 
midst of wicked associates, but through the influence of my 
aunt, a faithful, praying woman, I laid hold again with a 
stronger grasp, and to-night I am holding fast, and my 
hope is bright. [Amen.] 

Sister M. I have missed this meeting during the stormy 
nights when I was unable to get here. More than fifty 



FIFTH NIGHT. 29 



years ago I laid hold of this hope. The battle will soon 
be over, and I expect to know what eternal life is. A dy- 
ing grandchild years ago said to me, "Be thou faithful 
unto death," and the dear little voice still echoes in rny 
heart. 

The Leader. May that voice greet you inside the gate 
when your feet press the golden pavement of the City of 
God! [Amen.] 

Brother K. I have found that the best way to tighten 
my own grasp on heavenly things is to try to help others. 
The faith that works is the faith that grows. The talent 
used multiplies. I have learned that when I get a special 
blessing from the Lord it is a call to me to do some special 
work for him. I belong to Elm Street Church, and attend 
the Tyndall Hall class - meeting, where God is with us. 
[Amen.] 

Brother H. Eternal life is not a vague hope, but a 
possession. It is an estate the title to which is clear. We 
have the earnest of the inheritance 'here on earth. There 
is much joy in a true Christian life now. That joy will be 
complete hereafter. If we had the fullness of this joy in 
the Church the world would be drawn to Christ by its 
heavenly attraction. The infidel may cavil at the sublime 
fact of the incarnation, but every believer who has grasped 
the idea and felt the blessedness of an eternal life realizes 
that the way of redemption through Christ is worthy of 
God. 

Sifter B. For more than a half century I have been a 
follower of Jesus, and I feel like pressing forward till my 
race is ended and the prize won. My earnest wish is that 
these last days may be the best of my life. [Amen.] 



dP^ 






SIXTH NIGHT. 



The Rest that Remaineth. 



The Topic: "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people 
of God:' Het), iv. 9. 

The Leader. The text includes the rest of faith now, 
and the rest of heaven hereafter. It is a present enjoy- 
ment, and the hope of a greater. This is God's way of 
dealing with us — he gives us great things now, and has 
greater in reserve. The rest that remains is the full de- 
velopment of the rest of faith that now blesses the be- 
liever. My thought and my heart have been full of this 
theme. In Louisville, where I spent last Sabbath, these 
things were singing in my soul, and in the warm religious 
atmosphere of the Walnut Street Methodist Church (Eev. 
J. C. Morris, pastor), the realization of these truths was 
very vivid and precious to me. It was not less so with 
Eev. H. C. Settle and his people at Jefferson Street at 
night. The blessings of the gospel — pardon, peace, and the 
joy of the Holy Ghost — are the prelude to heaven and pre- 
paration for it. What the heavenly rest is, I know not. 
Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered 
into the heart of man to conceive the things that God hath 
prepared for them that love him; but he hath revealed 
(30) 



SIXTH NIGHT. 31 



tli em unto us by his Spirit. The revelation begins now, 
and will be completed in glory. This rest is mine. I rest 
in Christ, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that 
which I have committed unto him against that day. 

Brother H. This is a rest that remains. I have en- 
joyed it a long time, and it is still mine. Many waters 
cannot drown it. Deep sorrows have come upon me, but 
the Comforter has been with me. The wife of my youth 
when dying said, "O sing to me of heaven ! ; ' and rested 
in the arms of Jesus amid the waves of Jordan. The rest 
that remains beyond the river will be complete. I long 
to be there. 

Brother S. Twelve years ago I entered into the rest 
promised by faith. It was at the twilight hour when the 
answer came, and O it was a blessed, blessed experience! 
That rest is unbroken. I have cares, but I bear them. I 
have troubles, but they are sweetened and sanctified. I 
have conflicts, and would not have it otherwise, for I con- 
quer through Christ. We do enter into rest now. That is 
enough for me. Heaven will be complete when it comes. 

Brother B. This is the second class-meeting I ever at- 
tended — the first was seventeen years ago in England. 
The word "rest'' has a charm to me. In the rush of mod- 
ern business life many lose the art of physical rest. They 
cannot at night put aside the cares and lay off the burdens 
of the day, and so they wear out and die prematurely, or 
go to the insane asylum. You know [to the Leader] how 
busy is the life I am leading, but I have learned to leave 
my business cares at the office, and to lay all my burdens 
on Jesus. Thus I get rest for body and soul. But there is 
a deeper rest of faith to which I have not attained. When 
rnv children were taken, I could give them back to God ; 



32 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



when business losses came upon me, I could bear them; 
but there are forms of trial for which I was not fully pre- 
pared. I have most despised myself when I have had the 
praises of men: the contrast between my soul and the In- 
finite Purity has made me almost feel that I was a hypo- 
crite to take the hallowed name of Jesus in my lips. As 
I draw nearer to the true Light of life, the spots upon my 
robe of self- righteousness become more apparent. The 
deeper experience of which some of you speak I wish to 
realize, and I hope to get help from you in this place. 

The Leader. You are in a new home in Nashville. 
Let your life bloom into new sweetness and power and fruit- 
fulness. Let the coming days be the best. This is the will 
of God concerning you. [Amen.] 

Brother L. (a visitor). I love to come to this McKen- 
dree class-meeting when I visit the city — this is the third 
visit. My conversion was so clear that I have never 
doubted the blessed fact, and I have such a foretaste of the 
heavenly rest that I cannot but feel that I shall through 
God's mercy enter into its full possession by and by. I 
would be glad to have the prayers of this praying circle of 
Christian friends. 

Brother R. The rest now enjoyed by a true believer is 
real and precious, but it is not perfect. We are in the bat- 
tle, and must fight; we are in the race, and must run with 
patience, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our 
faith. Looking to him gives patience, hope, peace — rest to 
the soul. The heavenly rest will be so far exalted above 
earthly conditions that the anxieties and griefs that grow 
out of present relationships will be unfelt : there shall be 
no more sorrow or crying, neither shall there be any more 
pain, for the former things will have passed away. 



4fr 



>j< SEVENTH NIGHT. j< 

The Rest that Remaineth. 



The Topic (continued): "There remaineth therefore a rest to 
the people of God." Heb. iv. 9. 

The Leader. This promise suits a world like this — a 
world of pain, toil, and conflict, God could have made a 
world and left all these out of it, but it would not have 
been a world of moral agents with freedom and accounta- 
bility. It is best for us as it is. We could not enjoy rest 
without antecedent weariness. The spiritual life of the be- 
liever on earth, and his destiny in heaven, will reach 
greater depths and heights of knowledge, strength, and 
blessedness, because of the peculiar economy under which 
Ave live. It was said at our last meeting that this rest in- 
cluded the rest of faith now. The question for me is, Do I 
enjoy the rest of faith ? Many, many years of trial and 
pain and sorrow have gone by since I first knew it, and to- 
night it is mine. I trust all to God who spared not his 
own Son, but delivered him up for us all, and with him 
hath promised freely to give us all things. 

Brother L. I am not quite clear in my mind as to 
whether the passage we are considering relates primarily 
3 - (33) 



34 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



to the heavenly state, which the people of God shall enter 
into hereafter, or to that life of trust and willing conform- 
ity and submission to God's will and providence into which 
all Christians should enter while still in this life. I in- 
cline to think it relates to both. The third verse says, 
"For we which have believed do enter into rest." And 
this is the rendering of the new version as well as the old. 
Certain it is, that whether we think of the rest which now 
is, or that which is to come, we have the teachings of the 
Spirit elsewhere in abundance to support the doctrine. 
The everlasting life begins here. "He that believeth on 
the Son hath everlasting life." " The water that I shall 
give him shall be in him a well of water, springing up 
unto everlasting life." It springs up now, and shall con- 
tinue to all eternity. And I think our attention may more 
profitably be given to the Christian privilege and duty of 
entering into rest in this life. The apostle (Phil. iv. 5-7) 
admonishes us: "The Lord is at hand. Be careful for 
nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication 
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto 
God. And the peace of God, which passeth all under- 
standing, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ 
Jesus," or, as in other versions, " in Christ Jesus." The word 
" careful" should be " anxious" : be anxious about nothing, 
but trust in God; and take to him in prayer every matter 
about which we are concerned, whether it be a temporal or 
spiritual concern. Some Christians incline even to think 
it unworthy of the Christian life to pray to God for tempo- 
ral things. I think this is a wrong view. But the rather 
let all our purposes, hopes, and fears be laid before our 
heavenly Father. Then will we not dare to sin in our 
"life which we now live in the flesh." At least, the better 



SEVENTH NIGHT. 35 



we succeed in bringing every thing before liim by prayer, 
confession, and supplication, "with thanksgiving," the 
more perfect will be our protection against temptation. I 
would not separate the spiritual and bodily life; but let us 
subject our carnal nature to the spiritual by the grace of 
the Spirit of God. Our spirits are in the body; and " know 
ye not that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit? n 
Are we to live two lives — one spiritual and the other car- 
nal? We have not so learned Christ. The life which we 
now live in the flesh, let it be by the faith of the Son ol 
God. We should encourage prayer for little things. Mill- 
ler says, "If I lose such a thing as a key, and am put to in- 
convenience thereby, I pray Gud to enable me to find it. 
If a friend is tardy in attending upon his appointment 
with me, and I am losing time in waiting for him, I pray 
God to hasten him."' Many others (if they would confess 
it) do the like; and is this childish? " Verily I say unto 
you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, 
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." 

Brother B. It gives me joy to be here. My boyhood 
recollections are associated with class-meeting. From it I 
received instruction and fortifying religious influence that 
have blessed me to this hour, and I believe will bless me 
forever. My life has been a perpetual struggle, and at ev- 
ery stage I have found gracious rest in Christ. His own 
precious peace has been given to me, sweetening toil and 
solacing pain. I have it to-night, and my soul exults in 
hope of the heavenly rest that remains, the thought of 
which overwhelms my thought, and is too great for speech. 
Glory to God for such a joy and such a hope! [Amen.] 

Brother S. I often get a sense of rest in answer to 
prayer. I am praying for the health of one very dear to 



36 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



me. Can I rest on the promise of God with regard to that 
matter? 

The Leader. Yes, in every thing make known your 
requests unto God with thanksgiving. 

Brother B. What is this rest? (Is. xiv. 3.) Best from 
sorrow, fear, bondage : sorrow for sin, fear of the guilt and 
power of sin, bondage of sin; sorrow for temporal things, 
and fear of the future, knowing all things work together 
for good, etc. Best from all our enemies. (Deut. xii. 9, 
10.) From hunger, thirst, fatigue, poverty, which depress 
our faith; from pride, avarice, etc., which choke it; from 
active sin evolved in us at the devil's instigation, which 
kills it. Where is it? (Cant. i. 7, 8.) The flock rests at 
noon in the heat of the day beside the shepherds' tents. 
Compare Ps. xxiii. 1, 2, John x. 11-16 and 26-29. Wlio is 
it for? (Matt. xi. 28.) All that labor and are heavy laden 
— that are tired of sin, of sorrow, even of care for the Mas- 
ter's work ; for so he giveth his beloved rest. Is this rest 
ours if we have not entered in? (Deut. iii. 17-20.) The 
promised land of rest belonged to the children of Israel 
even before they saw it. The rest of faith may be ours, 
and remain unoccupied for lack of faith to enter in. Faith 
to enter in must be clear and sharp and decisive. (Josh, 
iii. 13.) The waters did not sever until the feet of the 
priests touched them. We must encounter every difficulty 
with uncompromising trust, and blow the ram's horn in 
triumph before the walls fall down. Can we be God's chil- 
dren if we have not this rest ? His children wandered forty 
years in the arid wilderness — fed with manna, watered 
from the rock, clothes kept good, guided by pillar of fire 
or cloud, but not rested. So are we too often. What keeps 
us out? (Num, xiii. 28.) The fear of giants in the land 



SE VENTH NIGHT 37 



kept them out from the milk and honey. Our biggest 
giant is self. Let us give our own keeping into God's 
hand (Ps. lvi. 13), and live a moment at a time, giving up 
our own ivill, and taking all things as they come, accepting 
them as being the will of God. If we ever fall out of this 
rest, can we regain it? (See Ps. lxviii. 13; cxvi. 8.) If you 
will allow me, I will read this little poem which expresses 
the sentiment of the topic: 

Thou sweet, beloved will of God, 

My anchor ground, my fortress hill, 
My spirit's silent, fair abode, 

In thee I hide me and am still. 

O will, that wiliest good alone. 
Lead thou the way, thou guidest best; 

A little child, I follow on, 
And, trusting, lean upon thy breast. 

Thy beautiful, sweet will, my God, 

Holds fast in its sublime embrace 
Hy captive will, a gladsome bird, 

Prisoned in such a realm of grace. 

TVithin this place of certain good 

Love evermore expands her wings, 
Or nestling in thy perfect choice. 

Abides content with what it brings. 

O lightest burden, sweetest yoke, 
. It lifts, it bears my happy soul ; 
It giveth wings to this poor heart; 
My freedom is thy grand control. 

Upon God's will I lay me down, 

As child upon its mother's breast; 
Xo silken couch nor softest bed 

Could ever give me such deep rest. 



38 



BIBLE NIGHTS. 



Thy wonderful grand will, my God, 

With triumph now I make it miD 
And faith shall cry a joyous yes 

To every dear command of thine. 

Sister B. During a long life I have always found my 
Lord ready to give an answer of peace to every true prayer 
of my heart. The rest that I enjoy is of the same quality 
as that which remains. It differs in measure, but not in 
essential quality. It differs as the drop differs from the 
ocean. The rest of faith is a reality. [Amen.] 

Brother E. What I hear from older Christians here 
so fully agrees with my own experience that it confirms 
me in the assurance that this religion is true. What they 
feel I feel, what they know I know in my measure. Some 
of my prayers were not answered in the way I hoped for, 
but they were answered. I felt the answering touch of the 
Comforter when I could not trace the providential clew. 

The Leader. You, my brother, are a young preacher. 
Drink deep of the spring of living water, that you may 
preach Jesus out of a full heart. Climb high the hill of 
the Lord, that from those sunny heights you may beckon 
the people to come up higher. May the Lord bless you, 
that you may bless many ! [Amen.] 






IMfjfflH^Mg 



jr?f^TOm^ffiTO3 






^eIghth nTght.^^ ^ 



The Condition of Fruitfulness 



The Topic: "He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same 
bringeih forth much fruits John xv. 5. 



The Leader. We abide in Christ by faith, and he 
abides in us by his Spirit. The word "abide" indicates 
the permanency of Christian relationship and blessedness. 
The union of the believer with Christ is vital, as that of 
the branch with the vine is vital. Into every believing 
heart there is a perpetual influx of the divine life. It is a 
felt reality; it is conscious life, healthy life, happy life; it is 
also fruitful life. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, tem- 
perance. These are the subjective or inward fruits of the 
Spirit. The outward fruits are brought forth in the re- 
sults that reward the activities of every earnest Christian 
life. These fruits are the reward of simple fidelity — not of 
genius, learning, wealth, or large opportunity. God's ways 
are equal. All his children are treated alike, essentially. 
The riches of grace and glory are offered to all true hearts, 
irrespective of natural advantages. There is in this truth 
inspiration, comfort, and joy to all true souls. The full- 
ness of spiritual life is not reserved as the privilege of a 
favored few, but is offered to all — to you and me. Fidelitv 

(39) 



40 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



and fruitfulness run in parallel lines. This opens wide the 
door of blessedness to every one of us. God help us to en- 
ter. [Amen.] 

Brother B. The past week has been one of unusual 
trial to me. I found comfort in a scripture which has been 
blessed to me a thousand times: "Thou wilt keep him in 
perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth 
in thee" (Isaiah xxvi. 3.) The troubles of our lives are 
turned into blessings when they drive us closer to Christ ; 
and when we get into closer union with our Savior, we be- 
come more fruitful in the Christian life. Thus I have 
found it to be always: when I have felt anew the love of 
Christ in my heart, I have put forth more effort to do 
good. This lova is not selfish. The mind that was in 
Christ Jesus takes us out of self, and puts us to praying and 
working for others. The fruit of the Spirit within us pro- 
duces the fruits of all healthful and happy Christian activ- 
ities in our external lives. The Holy Spirit works in us, 
and we work outward. 

Brother S. As a young minister of the gospel, I real- 
ize that my only sufficiency is in this union with Christ. 
I am overwhelmed with the weight of responsibility, but 
find comfort and hope in the thought that the work to 
which I am called is his work, and that the strength I 
must have is his strength. 

The Leader. The baptism of power from on high alone 
will equip you for this work. God give you the fullness of 
this baptism now. [Amen.] 

Brother B. It is not sufficient to bear fruit. God is 
glorified if we bear "much .fruit." Every bearing branch is 
pruned to bring forth more. (Heb. xii. 2.) Chastening is 
pruning. God cuts off money, friends, power, health, to 



EIGHTH XIGHT 41 



drive our force into fruit, not leaves, or even flowers. 
However much we bear, it is God who is glorified. (1 Cor. 
iv. 7, and Koru. xi. 18.) Let us therefore be humble, yet 
rejoice. Is it not true that we know experimentally, 
though in different measure (Gal. v. 22), love for man- 
kind, joy in our salvation, peace with God and man, 
long-suffering under vexation and trouble, gentleness to- 
ward all, the reflection of God's goodness, faith in the pre- 
cious promises, meekness and humility, and temperance in 
all indulgences? (Gal, iii. 20.) 

Sister W. The branch that does not bear fruit is a 
dead branch. The life of the soul dies when faith dies. 
The just shall live by faith. The living branch is fruit- 
ful — even the little twigs must grow and be fruitful. 

Doctor M. It is a pleasant thought to me that the 
richest prizes that God will bestow upon his children Till 
be given as the reward of fidelity, rather than of superior 
talent or high culture. Many years ago I knew a Bap- 
tist preacher of very moderate ability and limited educa- 
tion, whose sermons were scarcely sermons at all ; but 
snch was the consistency of his life, and the gentleness of 
his manners, and the fervency of his exhortations, that 
his influence for good was powerfully felt by all classes 
of persons. The good he did will only be known in 
eternity. His faith and goodness told where mere talent, 
learning, and eloquence would have failed. 

Brother L. This text and others that speak of the 
union of believers with Christ, and of their being made 
partakers of the divine nature, take me into depths be- 
yond my power to fathom. There is a meaning deeper 
and diviner than we can comprehend fully in this life. 
The Vine and the branches are of one substance. The 



42 BIBLE NIGHTS. 

atoning work of the Son of God and the sanctifying work 
of the Holy Spirit lift us to heights of holy relationship 
and blessedness, the thought of which at once exalts and 
humbles us. When this union with Christ is complete it 
gives unity, sweetness, and power to the life. Dr. M/s 
remarks reminded me of a Methodist preacher whose 
name still lingers sweetly in many hearts in these Ten- 
nessee hills. He was quaint in his ways, and when a boy 
I laughed at his peculiarities. At his burial I stood by 
the coffin of Elisha Carr, and had impressions that I have 
never forgotten to this day. He was great in goodness. 
He had the Spirit of Christ, and the fruits of holiness 
were brought forth in his life. 

Brother H. Why do we not always abide in Christ? 
Why is it that our religious fervor is so intermittent ? I 
know that whatever of inward peace and joy and outward 
activity are found in my life is the result of my union 
with Christ. I do possess at times this peace and joy, but 
there are reactions, and then come days of dimness and 
apathy. I want to abide in Christ, and get beyond this 
ebb and flow into the deep channel of a current that will 
bear me on steadily heavenward. 

The Leader. You live fully in the light and joy of 
religion one day— why not every day? Some thus live, 
and all of us might do so. 

'Tis there I would always abide, 

And never a moment depart, 
Concealed in the cleft of Thy side, 

Eternally held in Thy heart. 




The Victory of Faith. 



The Topic: "This is the victory that overcometh the world, 
even our faith," 1 John v. 4. 



The Leader. Faith unites the soul to Christ. Its pos- 
sessor has the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the 
Holy Spirit. This love expels the love of the world. It 
fills the heart with the fullness of God. It takes Jesus as 
the Savior, and the power of an indwelling Christ lifts the 
believer above all inferior and opposing influences in the 
world. It is Christ in us, the hope of glory — Christ the 
power of God and the wisdom of God. We may illustrate 
in this way : If a man has fixed his heart upon even the 
smallest thing, its loss gives him pain. The miser can 
give up pleasure because he has fixed his heart on money. 
The sensualist cares little for money, because he lives only 
to gratify his appetites. The lover of fame can give up 
both money and pleasure, because he has set his heart 
on something else. So the Christian, having the love of 
God in his heart now, and the hope of heaven, can, if 
called to do so, give up all three — riches, pleasure, and 
honor — counting all but loss that he may win Christ. 
Every true believer has a present conscious victory over 

(43) 



44 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



the world. In a true sense he is lifted above the reach of 
temporal calamity. He can stand in the evil day. I vis- 
ited a condemned malefactor in the jail this afternoon, and 
while trying to lead the unhappy man to Jesus my own 
heart was warmed, and my faith was strengthened. 

Brother H. (a visitor). It was by faith that I overcame 
the world so far as to make the start in the Christian life. 
It requires a measure of faith to start. I felt the desire to 
become a Christian, and believed there was a way to this 
end, though as yet I knew it not. So I began to seek it. 
I will not detail the special agencies by which I was led to 
the light; but, thank God, I found it in Jesus. I have 
never gone back, and never expect to do so. Faith is the 
overcoming principle. We fight boldly and confidently, 
because our faith assures us we shall conquer. We work 
with energy, because our faith assures us we shall not work 
in vain. I find that the measure of faith is the measure 
of energy. 

Brother K. In seasons of trouble and depression we 
realize our entire dependence upon God. There have been 
times- when I felt that I could not live without God's 
gracious help. I was greatly strengthened in meditating 
upon our last week's topic, and have a clearer view of what 
it is to slay upon God. It is to have the faith that keeps 
its hold upon Christ in the storm as in the calm, in the 
shadow as in the sunshine. 

Brother L. True faith is patient. It can wait upon 
God. Trials and temptations test and develop it, but if 
properly rooted it cannot be overcome. It works, it dares, 
it endures. 

Brother B. I like Paul's experience, and wish mine 
were more like it. He never faltered. The same clear 



NINTH SIGHT. 45 



rings out from his lips from the first to the last. If 
we look to Christ all the time, we will not fail or falter. 
When Peter turned his gaze from his Master to the heav- 
ing waters around him, he began at once to sink. The 
faith that has enabled me to stand firm for a month would 
help me to stand for a year — yes, forever! 

Brother S. The moment we trust in our own strength 
we fall into weakness and darkness. It was in a self- 
trustful spirit that Peter said to his Lord, ''Though all 
men should forsake thee, yet will not I." After the full 
baptism of the Holy Ghost at the Pentecost, he never wa- 
vered. The victory of faith that overcame the world was 
complete. Martyrdom crowned his triumphant course. 
This full baptism will do as much for every one of us. 
This I know from experience. God's grace is sufficient. I 
have found it so during eleven happy years, and I expect 
it to be so to the end. [Amen.] 

Brother L. Waiving the question, debated by theolo- 
gians, whether God does actually at times withdraw his 
grace from a believer that he may teach him how utterly 
weak he is in himself, we should be careful not to discour- 
age any true-hearted Christian who may be in heaviness 
through manifold temptations. It cannot be denied that 
we learn our most valuable lessons in the seasons of de- 
pression or conflict through which we pass. In such sea- 
sons self- righteousness and self-dependence are stripped 
from us, and we learn to look to Jesus only. This, at least, 
is my own experience. But we should not forget that we 
need this overcoming faith for the cares, worries, and petty 
trials of every-day life. Xor should we fail to take cour- 
age from the assurance our Lord eives us that his loving 
care and helping grace are not withheld from us in what 



46 BIBLE NIGHTS. 

some might call these little things of life. A Christian 
President of the United States might properly ask God to 
help him in writing his annual message, and a Christian 
cook might with equal propriety ask God to help him to 
cook a dinner. All things are ours if we are Christ's. 

Sister B. My experience is that as long as we look to 
Christ as our helper we overcome all opposition. It is fifty 
years since I began this life of faith, and I rejoice to-night 
in the power of Christ to keep, bless, and save me. 

Brother S. Leaving the topic, I want to ask a ques- 
tion: What do you think of an answer to prayer where you 
have prayed with a consciousness that you prayed without 
faith? 

The Leader. A thing you simply desire might happen 
without any connection with your prayer. Others might 
be praying for the same thing who have faith. But be 
sure of this: God answers in some way every prayer of 
faith. Answers! Think of the word. I call to you, you 
speak back; I know you heard me. So when you call to 
God in the prayer of faith, he answers back in a voice which 
is just as plain to the inner ear as my voice to your outer 
ear at this moment. Answers! Think of the word. 






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^ 



~*K TENTH NIGHT. JT^ _fr 



The Bible Our Guide. 



The Topic: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, 
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for 
instruction in righteousness : that the man of God may be per- 
fect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. iii. 
10, 17. 

The Leader. It is noticeable that this text follows the 
statement that Timothy from a child had understood the 
Scriptures. Through this channel the light and grace of 
God had poured into his mind and heart from the very 
dawn of moral consciousness. It is a good thing to mem- 
orize the word of God in childhood; it will be vitalized by 
the Holy Spirit in after-life. We believe what is here af- 
firmed, that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God — 
it is God-breathed. A Bible half inspired, or inspired " in 
spots," is not what we claim. It is profitable for all the 
uses of the Christian life — for our own instruction in the 
great doctrines, for the reproof and correction of error in 
opinion or conduct, for guidance in the active duties and 
the devotions of religion. Such use of the Bible helps to 
make the perfect Christian — perfect in the sense of full 
equipment for the work of the Lord. The Christian re- 

(47) 



48 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



ligion is a perfect religion. Guided and inspired by the 
word of God, the true Christian life is perfect at every 
stage — for that stage. Let us seek this full equipment and 
this perfection now ? and not wait for it to come as a sort of 
parting flash of illumination or inspiration at death. This 
is my aim, and this is my prayer. 

Brother H. I had no parental instruction in the Script- 
ures, and was sixteen years old before I knew any thing of 
the Bible. One of its texts convicted me of sin, and I was 
led to the altar a penitent. A warm - hearted Christian 
man kneeled by me and quoted the text, "-Come unto me, 
all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you 
rest." My faith grasped the promise of Jesus, and I found 
rest. For several years I have made it a practice to read 
the Bible through once a year. It becomes more interest- 
ing and more profitable to me with every successive read- 
ing. The sacred page glows at times with new light, and 
fills my heart with joy. 

Brother R. I am a young preacher, and it will be the 
business of my life to expound the Scriptures. I was first 
taught by my mother to love the Bible. Its stories were 
delightful to me when a child, and I loved to repeat them 
to other boys. It seemed to me then that I enjoyed them 
the more after telling them to others. I love the book. I 
began to read it from a sense of duty, but now it is a de- 
light. 

Brother B. I, too, am a young preacher, and I am 
studying the Bible as a preparation for my life-work. A 
Bible text awakened me when a sinner, and its promises 
led me to trust in Jesus. I find that the degree of relish I 
have for the word of God measures my enjoyment of him. 
I propose to take that word as my guide in all things, both 



TENTH NIGHT 49 



in doctrine and duty, and I feel a mighty comfort in the 
thought that it is a perfect guide, and that, unworthy as I 
may be, I have the promise that the Lord will, through 
his truth, perfectly sanctify me and fully arm me for the 
battle. [Amen.] 

Brother L. I, too, am a young preacher, and feel the 
importance of this topic. I think it best in preaching, and 
all other use of the Scriptures, to use the very words of the 
book as far as possible. I propose to memorize the whole 
of the New Testament during the coming vacation. 

The Leader. That is well — get it "by heart" in a 
double sense. The words employed by the Holy Spirit 
are the best. God make you mighty in the Scriptures. 
[Amen.] 

Brother S. It was the fifth commandment that broke 
my heart and brought me to Christ. It almost seems to 
me that all of God's merciful approaches to me have been 
made through my Christian mother. 

The Leader. Yes, it is God's gracious method to have 
the human love open a channel for the divine in our 
hearts. Your dear mother would rejoice to know where you 
are, and how you are employed at this moment. May you 
rejoice together inside the gates of the city of God by and 
by! [Amen.] 

Miss W. The question has been raised as to what is the 
best hour of the day for devotional reading of the Bible. It 
seems to me that it is best to read it in the morning for in- 
struction and for stimulus to faith and zeal, and at night 
for comfort and tranquilizing influence. After the worry 
and conflict of the day there is nothing like the word of 
God to quiet the soul. 

Miss P. The evening hour is the time when I read the 
4 



50 BIBLE SIGHTS. 



Scriptures with most profit and pleasure. There is then 
less hurry, and more opportunity to concentrate thought 
upon it, and in the stillness to hear God's voice. 

Sister S. If from any cause I fail to read the Bible any 
day, there is a sense of dissatisfaction and loss. My relig- 
ious life seems to begin to unravel, as it were. 

Brother X. I love the Bible, and I love the people 
who love the blessed book. 

Miss C. I am not able to say any thing that will instruct 
others, but I want to say the word of God is precious to 
me. I find light, comfort, and encouragement in its sacred 
pages. 






-•W? ELEVENTH NIGHT. £«*- 



The Bible Our Guide. 



The Topic (continued): "All Scripture is given by inspira- 
tion of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for cor- 
rection, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God 
may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 
Tim. iii. 16, 17. 

The Leader. If we had no Bible, and it were credibly 
announced that six months hence God would give us a 
book with his own thoughts and words, what a wonder and 
a joy it would be to the world! But having the book all 
our lives, we fail to appreciate it as we ought. It lies on 
our tables or on our library shelves unopened and unread. 
To get profit from the Bible it must be studied. Its pre- 
cious ores must be dug up and smelted in the furnace of 
study, comparison, and reflection. I visited, on last Sunday 
afternoon, a Christian friend who has for many months 
been suffering intensely from a painful malady. He was 
wasted and weak, and seemed to be near to death. During 
all these months of terrible pain his faith has been firm 
and his peace unbroken. Motioning me to draw nearer, 
so that he could make himself heard, he told me that he 
had been thinking of the new life, and of the promised new 

(51) 



52 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



heaven and new earth. Looking out of the window upon 
the green fields, the trees, and the spring flowers, over 
which the sunshine was spread soft and warm on that bright 
Easter Sunday, he said it made him think of the new earth. 
He felt a mighty comfort in the belief that, purified from 
sin, this planet would be one of the many mansions pre- 
pared for the followers of the risen Jesus; that right here, 
where he was suffering, he would rejoice; right here where 
the graves were dug they would be opened; right here, 
where pain and death now reign, would our redeemed spir- 
its reign in life with the Lord forever. As he spoke tears, 
not of pain or sorrow, but of grateful joy, flowed fast down 
his wan face, and the light of immortal hope kindled in 
his eye. The Scripture was profitable to him. The promise 
that he had read, and whose poetic beauty had touched 
him in health, had been applied to his believing heart 
with new, and deeper, and diviner meaning in this time of 
trial. 

Brother L. The prevalent ignorance of the Scriptures, 
even in Christian families, is amazing. Not long since I 
questioned a Sunday-school class of boys from ten to twelve 
years of age concerning the leading facts of the Bible. 
Their ignorance was surprising to me. They did not know 
the name of the first book of the Bible. They were the 
children of Church-members. This popular ignorance of 
the word of God must be a great impediment in the way of 
preachers. A physician could do but little toward impart- 
ing the facts and principles of medicine to an audience com- 
posed of persons who are ignorant of the meaning of its 
most common terms. There is great neglect in this matter 
on the part of religious parents and others. As to my own 
experience in the use of the Bible, I resort to it in times 



ELEVENTH NIGHT. 53 



of special perplexity, trial, and depression, and find God in 
his word a present help. 

Brother S. The promises of the Bible are sweet to me. 
There is a promise suited to every need. The Holy Spirit 
gives me many a gracious surprise by recalling to memory 
and applying to my heart the exceeding great and precious 
promises of the Lord. I rest on these promises — yes, I 
mowing that He that hath promised will surely bring 
it to pass. 

Brother B. The great truths of the Bible are profita- 
ble for mental gratification and improvement when studied 
as any other book is studied. But there is a spiritual mean- 
ing that is disclosed only to the spiritually-minded. There 
are times when the book of Job and the Psalms seem as if 
written specially for me. I get the very word I need. O 
it is a wonderful book! God inspired the writing, and he 
inspires the devout reading of it. 

Brother C. While at Knoxville recently, in attendance 
upon the Y. M. C. A. Convention, I was struck with the fa- 
cility with which a young brother from St. Louis used his 
open Bible in a conversation with c. gentleman who was a 
doubter seeking light. Every difficulty was promptly met 
by a text of Scripture, and the result was the happy con- 
version of a soul. This incident led me to resolve to be 
more diligent in the study of the Scriptures. Every day I 
try to enrich my memory with some divine truth in the 
very words of the book. My personal enjoyment of the 
reading of the Bible increases as my knowledge of its truths 
enlarges. 

Doctor D. (a visitor). The Bible has blessed and guided 
all my life. My parents were believers, and taught me to 
love and revere that sacred book. At the age of fourteen 



54 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



I was converted. When I went into the army as a soldier 
my dear mother said to me: " My son, you may forget me, 
you may forget your home, you may forget many things 
amid the perils and excitements of war, but do not forget 
your Bible." I never forgot those parting words. The Bible 
was a talisman and a guide to me then, and I expect it to 
be a light to my path and a lamp to my feet until I meet 
my mother again in the heaven it reveals to my faith. 
[Amen.] 

Sister S. My work as a Sunday-school teacher is sweet- 
ened by the thought that I am trying to sow the seeds of 
divine truth in the hearts of my pupils, and that the fruit 
will appear. I love this work. 

Sister R. J am too irregular in my reading of the Bible, 
but I do love it, and find inexpressible comfort in it. 

The Leader. While it is proper for us to read the 
whole Bible through in regular course, it is well also to 
choose our spiritual as we do our natural food. A healthv 
appetite may be trusted to make its selection. All Script- 
ure is profitable, but all Scripture is not equally profitable 
at all times. We should read, as Dr. Johnson says, "with 
inclination." That which interests us will be retained, di- 
gested, and assimilated. When any particular portion of 
the Bible is specially attractive to you, give it special at- 
tention, for in it you will find the aliment that will then 
nourish your soul. The Holy Spirit makes that word vital 
to all who read aright. The Bible is not a phonograph, 
but the voice of the living God to the loving and believing 
heart. 



i 



"t* 



TWELFTH NIGHT. 



All Things Working for Good. 



The Topic: "And ice know that all things work together for 
good to them tfiat love God." 1 Rom. viii. 23. 



The Leader. We do not merely hope or vaguely guess 
at the great truth. We know. How do we know? We 
know because God says it. That is enough. The word 
of the Lord abideth forever. But we know also from 
experience. Even while here in this present life we are 
often permitted to see that our troubles and sorrows have 
been our blessings. The blessing has come to us in the 
very midst of the fires. Darkness has been turned to light, 
and the oil of joy for mourning:, and the garment of praise 
for the spirit of heaviness. This text and the truth it em- 
bodies is precious to me, and I have felt all the week as if 
I would be glad to carry it as a cordial to every aching, 
breaking heart in this world of grief and pain. 

Brother H. My life has not been without sorrow, but 
mv sorrows have not been as bitter and crushing as those 

(55) 



56 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



experienced by some. Death has come to my home, but I 
felt that God knew best, and I could trust and submit. My 
business matters have often gone contrary to my wishes. I 
have had losses and disappointments, but I did not think 
that God sent them always. I had free agency, and used 
my own judgment, which is not infallible. But I do be- 
lieve — and it makes me glad to feel it as well as believe it 
— that the Lord does make all things work together for my 
good. He leaves my freedom of action untouched, but in 
his wisdom and goodness he evokes gracious results from 
all things that in any way affect my life. This is a great 
truth, and this text has been a strong support to me for 
many years — a staff on which I have leaned many a time 
when I was weary and faint. 

Brother L. 1 confess to a certain kind of skepticism, 
when I would apply the text to myself, "All things work 
together for good to them that love God, to them that are 
the called according to his purpose." It is not because I 
doubt that I am included in the class referred to, for the 
reference is to the lovers of God as a class, which the apos- 
tle shows more clearly by the explanatory clause which he 
adds, and which signifies that by "them that love God " he 
means them that are "the called according to his purpose" 
-that is, those who accept the call. Nor yet is it an in- 
tellectual skepticism. The more I reason on the subject, the 
more fnlly do I give the assent of my mind to the belief 
that all things work together for good to them that love 
God. I was once a skeptic, but not of the atheistic sort now 
found in the world, or of the corresponding class in the 
Church and among professed believers, who doubt the spe- 
cial providence of God. Thinking for myself, without the 
light of revelation, or not recognizing that light, I deemed 



TWELFTH NIGHT. 57 



it most unreasonable to suppose that the machinery of the 
universe moves without the guiding power of intelligence. 
We have actual perception of intelligence within ourselves 
and among ourselves. And we perceive that intelligence 
is the most powerful thing that exists, and that it gives or- 
der to the movements of all things, so far as we can discern 
ultimate causes. So I believed there was intelligence gov- 
erning the universe; and such an Intelligence being an 
ever-living thing (or things), I could not think it probable 
that he would divest himself of the power to exercise a 
continual direction over the movements of all things. I 
therefore assumed that there is a God, and that there is a 
special as well as general providence. This seemed to me, as 
a skeptic, to be reasonable; and now, as a believer, I am all 
the more confirmed in this confidence. But there is a skepti- 
cism of the heart, and it is here I stumble. I fail to realize, as 
I would, that God fed me last, and will feed me still. I fail to 
enter into the rest which remains to the people of God — even 
as it is written, "For we which have believed do enter into 
rest." It should not be postponed to a future time. I have 
not been greatly afflicted in my time, but I have been greatly 
tried. By afflictions I mean those calamities against which 
we cannot struggle. But when trials come, giving space 
for a struggle against calamity then I do struggle and call 
upon God. And so he has many times delivered me from 
my distresses. In these wrestlings I find myself better able 
to trust God than after they are over. Then I do return 
thanks to God for his goodness; but the heart, under relief, 
soon lapses into hardness and unbelief. My intellect still 
tells me that God may always be trusted, notwithstanding 
our unworthines> ; but the heart fails to realize that all is 
and mast be well. 



58 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



The Leader. That word "realize" has a prominent 
place and peculiar meaning in Christian experience among 
Methodists. A realizing faith is a faith that lays hold, a 
faith that grasps firmly the promise. This we do in great 
crises that throw us directly upon God as our only help, 
and then, unless we watch and pray, we relapse into dull- 
ness and weakness. "Tribulation worketh experience, and ex- 
perience hope ; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love 
of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is 
given unto us" The baptism of the Holy Ghost gives us 
this assurance, this rest. Pray for it. 

Brother R. I am just entering upon my life-work as a 
minister of the gospel, and am passing through sharp trials 
that you [speaking to the Leader] can appreciate. What I 
have heard strengthens me. Pray for me. 

The Leader. The trials with which you are now 
wrestling will, when you have conquered, as you will, be a 
part of your equipment for better service. The struggles of 
your own soul will give you knowledge of the human heart, 
and having been in the crucible, you will be able to help 
others. Look not back—keep your face to the front, and 
go right on. God always makes a plain path for willing 
feet. 

Brother S. I ask myself whether I do really love God, 
so that I may claim the promise of the text. How can we 
know that we love God ? 

The Leader. When we love what God loves, we are 
agreed with him. He loves his Son Jesus Christ; he loves 
his Church ; he loves good people. If you feel an increas- 
ing love for what God loves, you may take comfort in the 
assurance that you love him. 

Brother R. I do love God with all my heart. I am 



TWELFTH XIGHT. 59 



now an old man. I have been a humble follower of Christ 
many years, and I have found it true that all things have 
worked together for my good. 

Sister H. I can see no good in the acts of wicked men 
that bring sorrow upon the innocent. But there is no doubt 
in my mind about loving God. I know I love him, because 
I feel it. No other fact is more certain to me than this. 
Yes, I know I love him. The chain of circumstances that 
led me first to this class-meeting is an illustration of the 
truth embodied in this text. I found comfort here when I 
sorely needed it. 

The Leader. Not for ourselves alone does the Lord 
strengthen us in trouble. He would have us comfort others 
with the comfort wherewith he hath comforted us. AVhen 
we weep with others that weep, the channel is opened by 
which the grace that saves may flow into broken hearts. 
God give us a true knowledge and a deep experience of 
these highest truths, that we may be helpful to the many 
who need comfort in this sorrowing world ! [Amen.] 



GU^tfg gf&^G Jjc Lfcajgf? ?99jsaJ? ) 



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i\ THIRTEENTH NIGHT. $§ 



&&L. 



7^S¥wr^ 



All Things Working for Good. 



The Topic (continued): "We know that all things work to- 
gether for good to them that love God, to them who are the called 
according to his purpose." Rom. viii. 28. 



The Leader. God calls, invites us by his word and by his 
Spirit. All who accept the call or invitation have it writ- 
ten deep down in their hearts that God is love. Abraham 
had this consciousness when he was ready to obey the 
command to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Job had it when he 
said, though God should slay him he could still trust him. 
" The believing heart has deeper reasons than the reason 
can comprehend." Heaven will bring many sweet surprises 
to good men and women who have suffered. What we 
know not now we shall know then. With the love of God 
in our hearts we can be happy and hopeful here, and se- 
renely wait for the fuller revelation that awaits us. I wor- 
shiped with our Presbyterian brethren in Edgefield on Sun- 
day, and was comforted with them in considering this line 
of religious truth and experience. 

Brother H. I have during the week been prayerfully 
(60) 



THIR TEENTH SIGHT. 6 1 



asking my^c!: Have I sails:. Lence that I dc 

Gcni? Can I claim this precious promise? I do Ic ve 
Church ; I do love G ple;Idolove 3 L's worship; 

I do 1 - service; There is a lelight to me in such 

a meeting as this, where we are trying to help one an 
to a better knc ; Ledge : I 'Gt J and his ways, and to a dc 
experience of his grace. Yes, brethren. I know I love 
There are mysteries in his providence concerning me that 
I cannot comprehend. Why I should fail to get what I 

: so hard to obtain, I do not know. But G 

and I leave all to him. 
The Leader. The blessing is in the effort you make, 
isible result. The g fight is a substan- 
tial victory, whatever may be the apparent imme 
issue. I have j Henry Martvn. 

Judged by ordinary standards, it was a failure, so far as 
immediate : neerned; but the very difficulties 

and disabilities he encountered brought out the 
that will make his name a missionary watchword and his 
r all time. 
Brother B. I am never trouble 
ence to any thins: revealed r promised by him. 

-river-ion was of such a character that doubt as to the 
truth of Christianity is impossible to me. My trouble at 
times is. th rig, I pi le health, my realiza- 

F these blessed troths is feeble. This:-: —.and 

I try U bear it patiently. Shortly after I first joined Me- 

ree Church I had a sickness which looked like a ca- 
lamity. It led me to go to the Hot Springs in Virginia — 
and that trip was the greatest "essing of my life. The 
great troth of the text has ::::.; been graciously illustrated 
in mv life. 



62 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



Brother L. There are times when we seem compelled 
to spend much time on trivial things, matters that demand 
attention, and yet are of slight importance in themselves, 
and have no perceptible bearing on the development of 
Christian character. I suppose we need the drill thus given 
us, the power of endurance thus inwrought into our char- 
acter. 

The Leader. This routine work is necessary, and to 
endure it we must see Him who is invisible except to the 
eye of faith. This is part of the " all things/' 

Brother S. What has been said has done me good, and 
I have nothing to add on our special topic. I want to do 
good, as well as get all the good I can ; but I find myself 
readier to talk about religion to a Christian than to intro- 
duce that subject to an unconverted friend. 

The Leader. Every thing we do is awkward to us at 
first. The first step is the most difficult. Make the effort, 
and you acquire skill, readiness, and delight in the doing 
of your duty. Practice makes perfect. A blessed law of 
God insures that in the long run duty shall be conjoined 
with delight. 



m$ 



, * 




<<jFOURTEENTH NlGHT.jp 
Perfect Trust Brings Perfect Peace. 



The Topic: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose 
mind is stayed on thee: becaus-e he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 
xxvi. 3. 

The Leader. In 1851, when I was a young man and a 
young Christian, I was riding along the road from Macon 
to Milledgeville, in the State of Georgia. I was at the time 
troubled in mind, and shadows of uncertainty were over 
me. I had read this chapter in my morning devotions, and 
this verse had specially arrested my attention. Suddenly 
it came back to me, as I rode along the highway, and with 
it a mighty flood of peace and joy. I have never read it or 
heard it quoted since without thinking of that hour. It is 
to me a sacred text. Two hours ago I was again specially 
blessed by it, and this was the thought : It is God who keeps 
us, and therefore the blessing is complete. Do we not 
sometimes put our trust in the means of grace rather than 
in the Author of grace? We trust our prayers, our faith, 
our purposes, our obedience, and fail to trust directly and 
wholly in God. Thus the very means of grace may be per- 
verted and become a snare. It is God who keeps the trust- 
ing soul, and he keeps always. His power and his love are 

(63) 



64 BIBLE NIGHTS, 



boundless. Why should we not, therefore, expect this bless- 
ing in its fullness and perpetuity? Dear friends, I dare not 
entertain any lower expectation. Not only do I desire, but 
I expect this perfect peace to be mine — not to-morrow, but 
now — not in heaven only, but on earth. 

Brother L. Is this promise absolute, or is it to be taken 
with qualifications as an Oriental expression? Certain it is 
that few of us can claim such an experience. I fall short 
of it in an absolute sense, though I enjoy at times much 
of the peace of God. Why do we not enjoy it always and 
fully? 

The Leader. God never changes. Draw nigh to him, 
and he will draw nigh to you. Draw nigh, and keep nigh, 
by staying on him. The trust that gives you the perfect 
peace of God one day or one week may make it yours for- 
ever. 

Brother H. The text seems to me to promise complete 
and permanent peace without reservation. I have known 
some that seem to enjoy such a peace. Perhaps it is a mat- 
ter of temperament. I never doubt the truth of the gospel, 
but I scarcely expect for myself such an experience as is 
here indicated. 

The Leader. Why not? Temperaments may and do 
differ, but the grace of God is sufficient for each and all of 
us. God can manage our temperaments. He can make a 
desert bloom. He can surely keep every one of us in per- 
fect peace. Before next Tuesday you may enjoy this blessing. 
Temperament ! That is the very thing God can control, 
sanctify. Every natural peculiarity, under the transform- 
ing touch of his grace, is turned into an element of special 
strength or beauty in the development of a true, trusting 
soul. 



FOURTEENTH NIGHT. 65 



Brother L. My experience in the Christian life is as 
yet short, but I know this, that unfaltering trust Joes bring 
perfect peace. I know this, for I have felt it. 

The Leader. As a preacher, you will need the fullness 
of this peace that you may woo and win guilty and troubled 
souls to Christ. You will need it when you are sent to a 
hard circuit, and are met with indifference or harsh criti- 
cism, and your best endeavors rewarded with ridicule or 
slander. Paul and Silas had this perfect peace when they 
sung their glad song at midnight in the jail. If the police 
were to arrest us all to-night on some false pretext, and 
take us to the Nashville calaboose — a much more tolerable 
place than a Roman prison — how would we bear it? It is 
likely there would be more anger than peace, more com- 
plaining than singing. 

Brother S. If this peace is perfect on earth, why should 
we want to go to heaven? I am sorry to say I do not enjoy 
perfect peace, and I do not know that I expect it in this 
world. 

The Leader. That peace is for you now, if you stay 
your mind fully on God. Heaven will differ from earth in 
its exemption from the disabilities of the flesh and other- 
wise, but not in the essential element of our felicity, which 
is love. Love is the same in earth as in heaven. There ca- 
pacity will be enlarged, to what extent we know not. A 
circle may be large or small, but it is complete in either 
case if it be a true circle. 

Brother B. I often feel as if I would be glad to drop 
all my secular business, and devote all my time to non- 
secular Christian work. I find intense satisfaction in such 
service on Sundays. But the will of the Lord in this mat- 
ter is not plain to me. For twenty years I have had no 
5 



66 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



doubt of my salvation. Five years ago I was blessed with 
a deeper experience of the peace of God. 

The Leader. Preachers have their trials as well as 
business men. Perfect trust and faithful service in either 
sphere will bring a perfect peace here, and an abundant 
reward hereafter. Look to the Lord, and he will make a 
plain path for your feet, my brother. 

Brother C. I am from Newport, Ky., and in Dr. Wat- 
son's Church, of which I am a member, the question of 
higher Christian living is paramount. I am satisfied that 
the great body of our people are living below their privi- 
leges. This is true of myself, but I am anxious to attain all 
God would give me. I am glad to be with you here to-night, 
and ask your prayers in my behalf. 

The Leader. You have put the matter just right: seek 
all that God would give you. Think of it, brother! — 
where will God's willingness and power to bless a trusting 
soul stop? 

Brother E. Yes, God gives this peace, and it is, like 
him, perfect. This does not mean that we are to have no 
conflicts and trials. Our Lord tells us, " In the world ye 
shall have tribulation, but in me ye shall have peace." 
The inner life is hid with Christ in God, and is beyond the 
reach of external assault when the trust is perfect. It is the 
gift of God, therefore no sense of unworthiness on our part 
should deter us from accepting the blessing in all its fullness. 

Brother L. I find myself unable to think of "peace" 
without associating it with the rest of the Christian graces. 
It seems connected with any and every one of them, and 
stands as the object to which all lead. If my mind is turned 
upon faith, then, "being justified by [or through] faith, we 
have peace with God." If I think upon love, then " love 



FO URTEENTH NIGHT. 67 



worketh no ill to bis neighbor," and leads to peace with 
our fellow-men. The love of God cannot be dissociated 
with " the peace of God which passeth all understanding." 
If we turn our thoughts upon hope, "we are saved by 
hope," and so we come again to peace. Joy springs up 
from peace. Gentleness, long-suffering, meekness, patience 
— these all breathe the spirit of peace. But, on the other 
hand, anger, wrath, contention, jealousies, envyings, covet- 
ousness, falsehood — there is no peace in these. " There is 
no peace, sayeth my God, to the wicked." Voltaire said 
that there is more wickedness in one year of war than in a 
whole century of peace. I was not a soldier in the late 
great civil war, but I was in the war with Mexico. And I 
remember, on a Sunday morning as bright as my eyes ever 
opened upon, marching up the inclined way leading to the 
heights of Cerro Gordo, and its battle. So transparent was 
the atmosphere and bright the sunlight that the summit 
of Orizaba (crowned for 3,000 feet with snow), at a distance 
of sixty miles, seemed little more than six miles away. The 
air was balmy — the scenery magnificent beyond descrip- 
tion. u Every prospect was pleasing, only man was vile." 
But we were young men going out to battle, some of whom 
(we knew not which) were never to return. I thought of 
my peaceful home in Nashville, thousands of miles away, 
and of McKendree Church, and its Sunday-school, and its 
worship, and of my young friends there. What a peace 
must be even now prevailing at the home of my childhood 
on this holy Sabbath, thought I, while here there is no 
Sabbath. This is like the place of which we solemnly sing, 

In that lone land of deep despair 

No Sabbath's heavenly light shall rise. 

And as we went on the impression was deepened and em- 



68 BIBLE NiailTS. 



phasizecl, when the artillery discharges on our right became 
rapid as the clatter of musketry, and the volleys of mus- 
ketry thickened' to a continuous roar, like the sound of a 
tempest in the forest. This is "glorious war," but I knew 
that over there the face of the mountain was being covered 
with the slain and the wounded. There were the cries, and 
groans, and agonies of the suffering and dying. A Sabbath 
of war— a Sabbath of hell ! But a Sabbath of peace and 
worship is a Sabbath of heaven. The impression has con- 
tinued with me ever since— so often have I reflected, War 
is hell, peace is heaven. War carries in its train the vices 
and torments of hell — peace, the virtues and joys of heaven. 
" Seek peace, and ensue it." The birth of the Savior was 
announced by the song of the angels, "Peace on earth, and 
good-will toward men." And as this was the song of the 
rising Sun, so in our text we have the voice of the same 
Sun in his setting: "Peace I leave with you. My peace I 
give unto you. Not as the world giveth give I unto you." 
I brought in peace with my coming. I take it not away 
with my departure. For the God of peace brought again 
from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the 
sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant; and 
them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 
from the dead. And they shall enter into that rest which 
remains to the people of God; and that rest is peace. 

Brother S. This perfect peace is a reality. I bless God 
that he permits me to bear this testimony. Our blessed 
Lord is not stinted in his gifts, and would fill the whole 
Church with a peace, a light, and a power that would con- 
found infidelity, attract weary and sin-burdened souls to her 
altars, and hasten the final victory of the Son of God over 
all his enemies. [Amen.] 



I^JIllJP^ 



•jf* ^FIFTEENTH NIGHTS *f#- 
Delight in the Law of the Lord. 



The Topic: "His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in 
his law doth he meditate day and night." Ps. i. 2. 



The Leader. Delight in the law of the Lord led this 
man to meditate in it, and meditation in it increased that 
delight. Its preciousness was realized the more fully as it 
was better understood by him. He delighted to find in it 
a guide in the way of duty. It was a light to his path, and 
a lamp to his feet. I think it likely that he had in his 
mind the eighth verse of the first chapter of Joshua: 
"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth ; but thou 
shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest obsewe 
to do according to all that is written therein : for then thou shalt 
make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" 
What is meditation in the law of God? Solid, earnest 
thinking about it. There is too little of this in our day. 
We read too much and think too little in this age of 
cheap printing. Many are mentally lazy, and are averse to 
serious thought on any subject. Meditation is not reverie; 
nor is it vague speculation on religious things in general. 

'(69) 



70 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



It is to grasp and hold in the mind the truths of God as 
formulated in his holy word. "We must not let our thought 
run riot; it must be directed by the will. There is a field 
for the legitimate exercise of a Christian imagination, but 
we must be cautious lest we be carried too far. The light 
of the law is to show us the path of duty, rather than to 
illuminate the far-away depths of the heavens. The law of 
the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The laws of the 
mind are helps, not hinderances, in this matter. It will 
hold on to the truths it needs. For many weeks my own 
mind has turned irresistibly to those parts of the Bible 
that promise the fullness of privilege and blessing to the 
believer, and not without a wrench that would be very 
painful to me could I detach my meditation from that class 
of divine truths. These truths have fed my soul by night 
and by day, and while presenting them to others I have 
been happy in God 

Brother B. There are some books of the Bible and 
some special texts to which my mind usually reverts when 
left to follow its inclination. To stay the mind upon God, 
and to meditate in his law day and night, mean about the 
same thing. That law reveals to us what God is, what God 
loves, what God hates. Bight thoughts of the law are right 
thoughts of its Author; I find in the word of God that 
which suits every mood of mind and every condition of 
life. The book seems as if written for me individually. 
This one verse has been to me the text of unnumbered 
meditations, full of comfort and inspiration: "Thou wilt 
keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on theeP 

Brother C. I am studying the Bible as a preparation 
for preaching. I find two difficulties in my way: the first 
is a tendency to read and study in a sort of mechanical way, 



FIFTEENTH NIGHT. 71 



as task-work ; the other trouble is the fact that, after I have 
been specially blessed in reading or meditating upon the 
word of God, fierce temptations assail me. 

The Leader. Faith will conquer both these impedi- 
ments. Eead and meditate in a prayerful spirit. Pray that 
the word may be to you indeed spirit and life. Do all as 
in the immediate presence of God. Be sure the devil will 
not leave unmolested a young man engaged in making spe- 
cial preparation for the work of saving souls. The Savior 
himself did not escape ; we need not expect to do so. Look 
to Jesus, the author and finisher of the believer's faith, and 
go on your way rejoicing. 

Brother E. I love to think of the great and blessed 
truths of divine revelation. That is why I am here to- 
night. I get food for religious thought from my breth- 
ren, and my appetite for spiritual things is whetted. I 
love the Church because it helps me in my approaches to 
God. 

Brother L. We ought to have a delight in the law of 
the Lord greater than that of the author of the text in 
proportion as we have a fuller revelation of the light and 
love of God. If he delighted in meditating upon heavenly 
things, much more should we do so. The law came by 
Moses, but grace and truth by Jesus Christ. 

Sister B. The words of Jesus have a special attraction 
for me, and furnish the grounds for my precious medita- 
tions upon divine things. They touch my soul at greater 
depths than any other words, and thrill me with a power 
all their own. 

Brother L. I am impressed with the importance of hav- 
ing definite subjects for religious meditation. The words 
of the Bible are better than our words. A truth formulated 



72 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



by the Holy Spirit is in its best form for our use. So I 
am trying to hide that word in my heart — " getting it by 
heart " in a double sense. 

Brother S. I find that my temptations from without 
are greater than formerly, while at the same time I have 
reason to hope that my power of resistance is greater. I 
find more real pleasure and benefit in reading the Bible 
and meditating upon what I read. In my lonely and de- 
sponding moods I am cheered by the reflection that there 
is love for me that I cannot doubt — that of my dear mother 
on earth, and that of my father in heaven. 

Brother H. Our talk to-night has taken not improperly 
or unprofitably, I hope, a wide range. The author of the text, 
I think, had reference to the law of God as the rule of duty 
in practical living. It made known to him his duty to God 
and to man. The more he studied it, the more its perfection 
was evident to his mind, and the greater his delight in it. 
To the devout student of the law of the Lord its spiritual- 
ity is revealed, and its hidden depths of gracious mean- 
ing disclosed. At times I feel that the 119th Psalm ex- 
presses the sacred joy of my heart as a student of the word 
of God. 

Brother S. Mother-love and love to God and his word 
are inseparably associated in my thought. At seven years 
old my mother led me to Christ as a Savior, and my heart 
then in a childish way given to him has never to this hour 
taken back the gift. I am studying for the ministry of the 
gospel, and hope to spend a laborious but happy life in 
meditating upon its glorious truths and preaching them to 
others. The thought humbles me, and yet gives me joy, 
that it has pleased God, as I trust, to call me to this work. 

Sister B. More than fifty years ago I began the Chris- 



FIFTEENTH NIGHT. 



73 



tian life, taking the Bible as ray counselor, and, blessed be 
God, it has been a light to my path all the way. Not 
one of its promises has failed. I am near the end of the 
journey, and all that was sweet and precious to me as a 
believer at the start is sweeter and more precious now. 
[Amen.] 




t^t^t, 



S@§- SIXTEENTH NIGHT, ip§§ 

Christian Love the Evidence of the 
New Life. 



The Topic : " We know that we have passed from death unto 
life, because we love the brethren." John iii. 14. 



The Leader. Experience rather than exposition is our 
aim to-night. I am filled with grateful joy at the thought 
that God in his great goodness has by a test so simple given 
every one of us the means of settling the most momentous 
of all questions. There is no question that equals in in- 
terest this question: Have I passed from death unto life? 
What a wonderful thing it is to be able to say we know! 
This excludes all guess-work and doubt. All genuine con- 
verts know this at the first. It is only when coldness and 
declension come that doubt arises. I knew the fact when I 
was converted, and I know it now by the same test. We 
love all men as men; we love Christians as Christians. It 
is a love of relation. The elements of Christian character 
that are in me enable me to recognize the same elements 
in my brother. The love of Christ that is in my heart 
(74) 



SIXTEENTH NIGHT. 7 5 



leads me to love his image wherever I see it. Every true 
believer bears that glorious image; therefore every true 
believer loves all other Christians the world over. Of other 
Churches as well as your own ? Yes, thank God ! All who 
bear that image are brethren. The basis of Christian unity 
is this, and this only. I love Christians with a peculiar 
love, because they are Christians. That is what brings me 
to the class-meeting, and makes me love it. We meet as 
Christians; our object, as Christian friends, is to help one 
another on in the way that leads to God and heaven. I 
prefer this sort of company to any other. 

Brother S. The verse of Scripture we are considering 
has a sacred interest for me. Though I had joined the 
Church, and was trying to live a Christian life, I was 
greatly distressed by misgivings concerning my conversion. 
I told an aged and devout man my trouble, and asked him 
how I might know that I was an accepted believer in Jesus 
Christ. He looked at me steadily, and in a tone of mingled 
tenderness and solemnity said: "We know that we have 
passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." 
It took scarcely a moment's reflection for me to apply the 
test, I knew I did love Christian people, and that in this 
respect, as well as others, there was a great change in my 
feelings. Almost as- quick as thought the clouds rolled 
away from the sky, a flood of light and joy broke in upon 
me, and I knew. Glory to God for it ! It was a certainty 
then, it is a certainty now. 

Brother H. Do we limit our love to our brethren? 
"What if a fellow-member of the Church has wronged me, 
and persists in the wrong? 

The Leader. Jesus tells us we must love our enemies, 
and pray for them that despitefully use us. 



76 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



Brother II. I am afraid I do not come up to this mark. 
I can't love one who has wronged me, and will make neither 
confession nor reparation. 

Judge E. Love and hatred are opposites. Love is an 
active principle prompting us to do our brother all the 
good we can. Hate, on the other hand, would lead us to 
do our enemy all the harm we can. Would you, Brother 
H., do any person harm if you could? 

Brother H. No, I am sure I would not. 

The Leader. Then you do not hate him, I trust. But 
be careful here. Look not only at our Lord's words, but to 
his example. He loved his enemies and died for them ; 
he prayed for them in the agonies of the crucifixion. It 
may be you have a battle to fight here. Conquer on your 
knees, and you will be stronger for it forever. 

Brother S. A neighbor of mine, a man of quick and 
violent temper, under a misapprehension of facts, became 
very angry with me, and abused me bitterly. I refrained 
from making any reply, but I prayed especially that he 
might see his error, and that I might have an opportunity 
to speak to him when he was in a mood to listen to reason. 
Two days thereafter he came to me with tears in his eyes 
and asked forgiveness for his violent behavior. I believe 
my prayer was heard. 

The Leader. Your silence under provocation was true 
wisdom, and prayer was your path to victory. 

Brother L. This love to the brethren is the evidence 
at the beginning of Christian living that we have passed , 
from death unto life, but it is not the only evidence. The 
Spirit itself witnesseth with our spirits that we are the 
children of God. It is a blessed truth that we may know 
that we are enjoying God's favor every day of our lives. 



SIXTEENTH XIGHT. 77 



As a business man I have many occasions to test myself by 
the practical rule we are considering. 

Miss B. It helps me to be patient and forgiving toward 
my fellow-beings, to remember that when a willful wrong 
is done me it is a sin against God also; and a Christian 
ought to be more concerned for the honor of God and the 
law of God than any thing else. 

Judge E. I love Christians of all denominations; but I 
am a Methodist, and feel more at home with Methodists, of 
course. 

The Leader. Intimacy of association begets peculiar 
affection. Hence the value of the class-meeting in draw- 
ing Christians closer together, and cementing their hearts 
in love. But Christian love, as such, knows no denomina- 
tional limit. We all felt special pleasure in having Colonel 
M., a Presbyterian brother, with us at our last meeting. 
AVe are all one in Christ Jesus. 

Brother C. Suppose the case of one who never knew 
any thing else but to love good people, and could not fix 
any time when there was any change in this particular? 

The Leader. The child of Christian parents, duly dedi- 
cated to God and properly nurtured, ought to be a recipi- 
ent of the saving grace that will bring it to the exercise of 
holy affections as soon as it can love at all. I think many 
of us are too much disposed to limit the grace of the Lord 
Jesus Christ in regard to the conversion of children. It is 
time to close our meeting. Do not forget that it is your 
privilege to know that you have passed from death unto life, 
and to have a blessed, satisfying, joyful consciousness that 
you are accepted believers in Christ every day and every 
hour. 



^SEVENTEENTH NIGHT. ^# 

««< ► — 3 Q C — * »>» ■ 

The Certainties of Prayer. 



The Topic : "If ye abide in me, and my ivords abide in you, 
ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." John 
xv. 7. 

The Leader. These words have grown on me all the 
w r eek. They mean that the true believer who is united to 
Christ by a living faith, and uses all available means of 
knowing his will, will be guided as to the subjects of his 
prayers, and will receive what he asks for. We pray for 
the forgiveness of our sins, the peace of God, purity of heart 
and life, and the witness of the Holy Spirit, without reser- 
vation, as these are distinctly promised to all believers. 
Beyond this there is given to such as fully abide in Christ, 
and are responsive to the touches of the Holy Spirit, special 
direction and power in prayer. " We know not what we 
should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh 
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." 
Not that the Holy Spirit makes any fresh disclosure as to 
the facts or principles of the gospel, but it does direct the 
thought, desire, and prayer, to proper objects, helping the 
(78) 



SE VENTEENTH SIGHT. 79 



true "believer to pray at the right time for the right things, 
and to pray aright. 

Brother H. In die passage yoa have quoted why is the 
I "groaning — "groaning.? which cannot be ut- 

Does not the Holy Spirit till us with peace and 
joy as well ? 

The Leader. The word groaning conveys the idea of 
earnestness, the leep and absorbing earnestness of a soul 
so moved to its profoundest depths by the Holy Spirit that 
its emotions go beyond the power of expression, and can- 
not be formulated in human speech. There is a joy in the 

\ far that he is promised 
frequently, an^ is most needed in this world of sorrow 
and pain. 

thee L. Christians have a right to pray for any 
thing that they have a right to desire — things temporal as 
well as spiritual. 

Doctor M. Our children are nearer to us than any thing 
else. That they may occupy respectable places in society, 
and have abundance of this world's gi Is, may be my de- 
sire; but I have never felt authorized to pray that they 
might attain honor and riches, while I have prayed, and 
do pray without reserve, that they may be true followers 

SOS. 

z Leader. You cannot know that honor and riches 
would be real blessings to them; but the word of Christ 
a no doubt that true discipleship is the greatest of all 
bless:: :^- 

Brother H. There is an emphasis in the word abi d 
the test. I fear I have not reached the state indicated by 
it. I trust my faith is never wholly lost, but it is subject to 
alternations of weakness and strength. The believer, when 



80 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



he enjoys the fullness of his privilege, is not a sojourn- 
er; he abides with his Lord in perpetual fellowship and 
peace. 

The Leader. Thank you, brother, for that word. But 
with regard to our prayers for others, is it not true that 
there is a coincidence between the operations of God's prov- 
idence and the moving of his Spirit upon responsive souls? 
I say responsive souls, for it is only such as can expect to 
feel these touches from the invisible hand of God. At par- 
ticular times we are moved to special concern and prayer 
for particular individuals within the circle of our relation- 
ships and associations, and when all the facts are known 
we are awed to find what a marvelous coincidence existed 
between the surroundings of the person for whom we were 
thus drawn out in prayer and the impulses of our own 
souls. 

Doctor M. One striking case of the kind in my own ex- 
perience comes to my mind — that of a gentleman for whom, 
without any special producing cause that I could define, my 
heart was drawn out for many weeks in special solicitude 
and prayer. When he finally made a profession of Christ 
and united with McKendree Church, I was struck with the 
coincidence, though I never spoke a word to him on the 
subject. I spoke only to God in prayer for him. 

Brother H. We must try to help bring the answer to 
our prayers. If you, Dr. M., had gone to the gentleman of 
whom you speak, and put your hand on his shoulder, and 
kindly told him he ought to be a Christian, you would have 
done the right thing. 

The Leader. Not necessarily. If we abide in Christ 
fully, and his words abide in us, we will see constant oppor- 
tunities for speaking to our friends as well as praying for 



SEVENTEENTH NIGHT. SI 



them. But there are times when you may feel the impulse 
to pray without the impulse to speak to the subject of your 
prayer. In more than one instance I have felt intense so- 
licitude for the conversion of individuals, and, despite the 
solicitation of friends, I have refrained from direct ap- 
proach to them in conversation, having a clear persuasion 
that the Lord was at work by the Holy Spirit, that no 
special word of mine was needed, and that I might do harm 
instead of good. But when a Christian does feel a strong 
impulse to speak or write to any individual on the subject 
of religion, the impulse ought to be obeyed. Glad sur- 
prises and gracious results would reward and delight all 
who will do so. 

Brother H. We are taught in the Lord's Prayer to say, 
"Give us this day our daily bread," and at the same time 
to say, "Thy will be done." While we carry all our tem- 
poral interests to God in prayer, and invoke God's blessing 
upon them, we cannot dictate as to detail. That must be 
left to his wisdom and love. 

Brother L. I have been a follower of Christ fifty-one 
years, and know what it is to abide in Christ, and to have 
his words abide in me. I know that prayer is heard and 
answered. I know that these blessed truths will stand the 
test of sorrow, and pain, and time. As I near the end of 
my journey they become more precious to me. I am happy 
to-night in the certainty that these things are so. Glory 
be to God! [Amen.] 

Miss B. It gives me inexpressible comfort to believe 
that God's word and Spirit will so instruct and guide every 
disciple of Christ that no injurious mistake will be made in 
either the subjects or the nature of our prayers. If we all 
fully apprehended this truth, with what new power would 
6 



82 



BIBLE NIGHTS. 



the Church be endued! Its prayers would prevail, and 
wonders would be wrought. [Amen.] 

Brother E. I am an old man, and near the end of my 
race. I have nothing to add to the views that have been 
given, but I thank God I feel that my march is upward 
and onward. [Amen.] 




g-^^^2. 



^J| EIGHTEENTH NIGHT. %> 

Perfecting Holiness. 



The Topic: "Having therefore these promises, dearly be- 
loved, let us cleanse ourselves from all fllthiness of the flesh and 
spirit, perfecting Jwliness in the fear of God." 2 Cor. vii. 1. 



The Leader. In my meditations upon our topic during 
the week, I have been impressed with the thought that it 
is just as incumbent on us to study the promises of God and 
to claim their fulfillment as it is to study his command- 
ments and obey them. This thought accompanied me to 
the church dedication at Chapel Hill, in Marshall County, 
and no doubt gave tone to the services of that bright Sab- 
bath day, when believers of all denominations rejoiced to- 
gether in a precious manifestation of the love of God. The 
basis of our faith and hope is the promise of God. The 
specific blessing placed before us in this text is holiness — 
inward and outward holiness. "We are encouraged to seek 
this blessing by the promises referred to in the immediate 
context. What promises? The promises that God would 
dwell in his people, and walk in them ; that he would be 
their God, and that they should be his people ; and that 

(83) 



84 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



they should be his sons and daughters — that is, that they 
should go beyond the state in which they serve God from 
a mere sense of duty, or from fear of hell ; they must have 
the adoption of sons, the happy sense of sonship, serving 
God lovingly and joyfully, using the means of grace by 
which they cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the 
flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 
Thus it is our act, and it is also God's. We cleanse our- 
selves in the sense that we lay hold of the hope set before 
us. God cleanses us in the deep and true sense that his is 
the power and his the promise, he working in us to will 
and to do. I will not undertake to define the limits of this 
promise, its length, breadth, height, and depth. It cer- 
tainly embraces the whole being and the whole life of a 
believer, all the habits of the body, all the desires of the 
heart and purposes of the will, holiness in thought and in 
act. Above all things my soul longs for this blessing. 

Doctor P. During the week I have witnessed a touch- 
ing and satisfying demonstration of the joy and blessedness 
of such an experience. Summoned by telegraph to the bed- 
side of a dying Christian lady, one of my former pupils, 
living in Alabama, I went, thinking I might be called to 
administer consolation and comfort to a child of God going 
down into the valley and shadow of death. But it turned 
out that I received more than I could impart. Though 
still a young woman, she had, by the discipline of suffer- 
ing, learned the secret of the Lord, and her life had blos- 
somed into perfect trust and peace. From the fires she had 
come forth as gold. She had clung to her husband and 
child with a wife's and a mother's love, .but a few weeks 
ago she was so wonderfully blessed of God that no shadow 
of doubt or lingering reluctance darkened her mind. It 



EIGHTEENTH SIGHT. 85 



seemed to be perfected holiness in one very young, who was 
led by the path of pain to the sunny heights where all is 
peace. This visit to the dying-bed of a saint has strength- 
ened my faith and hope. The promise of God is, as our 
Leader has said, the basis of our expectation and the in- 
spiration of our effort. Every man that hath this hope in 
him purifieth himself. I follow on to know the Lord. My 
desire and my prayer is that I may know experimentally 
all that is embraced in a perfected holiness. [Amen.] 

Brother H. The thought that is in my mind is this: 
that we should make a personal application of this text. I 
take it as a call to me to be holy, and a promise to me that 
I can be holy. My whole soul turns to the Lord in grate- 
ful recognition of his goodness, and in an earnest purpose 
to go on to the perfection that is placed before me. 

Hymn : Forever here my rest shall be. 

Brother S. The promises of my Lord are unspeakably 
sweet to me now. Eleven years ago I entered into the rest 
of faith. In conversation with a Christian friend, I deplored 
the waywardness and wickedness of my heart, when he said 
to me: "Call not that unholy or unclean which God hath 
cleansed." The words had a strange power. I saw Jesus 
as a present and perfect Savior; and O brethren, ever since 
he has been more and more precious to me. We enter into 
this life of God by faith, not by works. "We believe unto 
the saving of the soul with a perfect salvation. Sin is then 
hateful to us, and we turn away from it with the prompt 
and unerring instinct of a soul abhorring that which is 
evil, and cleaving to that which is good. I hope nobody 
will misunderstand my view of faith and works. Where 
there is true faith there will be fruitfulness in good works. 



86 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



We may have works without faith, but we cannot have faith with- 
out works. 

The Leader. That last sentence puts the matter about 
right. 

Mrs. W. Is this question pertinent: Is there certainty 
that we shall get all we really desire of holiness? 

The Leader. Our Lord Jesus Christ says : 6i Blessed are 
they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be 
filled." That word "filled" answers your question. But 
bear in mind that the words "hunger" and "thirst" indi- 
cate intensity of desire, and imply consequent earnestness 
in the use of means. 

Brother B. have a distinct experience on this sub- 
ject, and can date the time when my Christian life took a new 
departure, when a new light shone upon my path, and a 
new joy filled my soul. I claimed the promise, and got the 
blessing. I cor Id say this is the victory that overcometli 
the world, even our faith. Though my enjoyment of this 
state has not been uninterrupted, being sometimes obscured 
to some extent by physical infirmity, I joyfully testify that 
God is faithful to his promise, and will give us all the grace 
he calls us to seek. Having begun in us his good work, he 
will finish it to the day of Jesus Christ. [Amen.] 

Brother E. (an old man). These white locks show that 
I am nearing the end of my journey. I have been a fol- 
lower of Jesus and a member of the Methodist Church fifty- 
one years, and I bless God to-night that he has kept me in 
all the way by which he has led me. He has never failed 
to fulfill his promises to me, and soon I expect to see the 
King in his beauty. 

The Leader. May you realize the dying wish of 
Bishop Doggett. Having tried life in its imperfection 



I 



EIGHTEENTH NIGHT, 87 



and frailties here, may you enjoy it in its perfection up 
yonder. 

Doctor T. (a visitor from Dover). I am glad I found 
my way to your class-meeting to-night. My heart has 
burned within me while here. I am a living proof of the 
fact that God will be a father to us. Left an orphan boy, 
he has been my guide, supporter, and protector to this 
good hour. 

Brother H. It is my wish and prayer that I may go on 
perfecting holiness, each day finding me farther advanced. 
I want to make such real progress that not only shall I pos- 
sess the consciousness of the favor of God, but that all 
around me may see that my religion exerts a really con- 
trolling and transforming power over my heart and life. 
The assurance that this aspiration is partly realized by me 
already, and may be fully met, gives me a great joy to- 
night. I want all the members of the Class to pray for 
me. 

The Leader, At a recent meeting we considered the 
subject of Intercessory Prayer, and covenanted to pray regu- 
larly for one another. You and all members of the Class 
are in my thought and in my prayer. May God help us to 
help one another! And may he enable us to understand 
the fullness of our privileges as sons of God, and claim all 
the heaven of holiness ! [Amen.] 



NINETEENTH NIGHT. 



The Christly Mind. 



f 



The Topic : "Lei this mind be in you which was also in Christ 
Jesus." Phil. ii. 5. 

The Leader. The subject, though a broad one, is full 
of salient points. Likeness to Christ is the idea, and in the 
midst of the activities of a busy week it has drawn my 
mind to it like a magnet. My desire for Christ-likeness 
has certainly been intensified. My mind has dwelt mainly 
upon the humility of Jesus. This is the perfect flower of 
the Christian life. There is a mock humility, and there is 
a genuine humility. The false overdoes its acted part, and 
may be detected by its obvious self- consciousness. The 
true is as unconscious as childhood; it is a lily that blooms 
and sheds its fragrance by the law of its life, but without 
knowing it. The self-sacrifice of Jesus has also drawn my 
heart to him during the week. In thinking of him who 
exchanged the riches of heaven to become as poor as the 
poorest, and who laid aside the glory which he had with 
the Father before the world was to become the servant of 
the meanest, I felt more than ever the desire to be like 
him. 

Brother H. The text encourages me. It tells me that 
(88) 



NINETEENTH NIGHT. 89 



I can have the mind that was in Christ Jesus. I find in it 
both a command and a promise — a duty to perform, a bless- 
ing to be attained. 

The Leader. Yes, brother, this is the will of God, even 
your sanctification. The whole ocean of God's grace pours 
into the receptive soul. They that thirst for it shall be 
filled. Let it come, and it will come. 

Brother L. The humility that is merely a subjective 
grace is not so conspicuous in the life of Jesus as the love 
that led him to be always seeking and saving the lost. The 
humility of Jesus is not the sort that hides itself in a mon- 
astery, nunnery, or hermit's cave; bat it is that which en- 
dures meekly the contradiction of sinners, returns not rail- 
ing for railing, and which is not ashamed to recognize the 
Lord's poor, and does not offend his little ones. 

Brother S. Are we not too often unlike Jesus in that 
we fail to rebuke sin, as he did, boldly and on all proper 
occasions? We 'lack the courage that will enable us to 
look sinners in the face and reprove them. 

The Leader. Perhaps if we could get at the heart of 
the matter, it is holiness that is lacking. Holiness antag- 
onizes sin eternally, and the holiest men and women feel 
most strongly the repulsion toward whatever is unholy. In 
God, therefore, this repulsion must flame out with more 
awful intensity than in any other being in the universe. A 
holy and loving Christian heart will not be wanting in 
courage. It is to he feared that it is indifference rather 
than cowardice that seals so many lips in the presence of 
sin. 

Brother H. Is there any instance recorded where Jesus 
rebuked an individual sinner? Were not his denunciations 
leveled rather against classes of sinners? 



90 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



The Leader. The burning power of his words was such 
that they were carried home to the conscience of every 
Pharisee, hypocrite, adulterer, extortioner, and blasphemer 
who heard them. They raged against him in fury, or slunk 
abashed and convicted from his presence. There was no 
need of individualization even if, amid the throngs that 
crowded around him, there had been opportunity for it. 

Brother H. A consistent, holy life is the best rebuke 
to sinners. It requires rare good sense to qualify one for 
such work. 

The Leader. Above all, it requires consistency in our own 
Christian lives. He that lives in the glass-house of wrong- 
living will be ashamed to throw the stone of reproof at his 
neighbor. But the righteous is as bold as a lion. He will 
speak, because he loves his neighbor and hates sin. 

Brother S. That holy man, Elisha Carr, it is said, 
never failed to reprove sin, no matter who was the sinner 
or what the occasion ; yet his spirit and manner were such 
that none took offense. 

The Leader. It was Elisha Carres holy life behind his 
admonitory and reproving words that gave them power, 
and disarmed resentment. The mind that was in Christ 
Jesus gives wisdom, courage, sweetness, and power to all 
who possess it. 

Brother M. As the obligation to live holy lives is just 
as binding on the lay members of the Church as it is on 
the preacher, so it is just as much their duty to rebuke sin 
as opportunity offers. My meditation on the text has led 
me to pray for more of the spirit of self-denial. I long to 
be like Him in this particular, and, like Brother H., I find 
gladness in the thought that I can be like him. 

Brother B. The mind that was in Christ Jesus, if 



NINETEENTH NIGHT. 91 



possessed by all who are called by his name, would multi- 
ply the fruits of Christian service tenfold. 

The Leader. Yes, brother, it would send them out after 
the lost. It would send them to the jails, to the hospitals, 
to the hovels of the poor, to the haunts of the degraded, 
broken, despairing, and lost human souls with the light 
and life of the gospel. It would open their eyes to see, 
rouse their hearts to feel, and strengthen their hands to 
work. O God, give us and all the Church the mind that 
was in our Master! [Amen.] 



;.*. 



TWENTIETH NIGHT. 



-%£- •£• — a < u* ' 



Heart- Purity. 



The Topic : "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see 
God: 1 Matt. v. 8. 

The Leader. True blessedness does not depend upon 
external conditions and relations, but upon the internal 
character of the soul. It is not merely the pure hands of 
an outward morality, but purity in the depths of the heart 
that is required. The whole moral nature must be pure — • 
thought, feeling, and will. There must be a new birth of 
the soul. Through this gate we enter upon the new life of 
holiness. To see God we must become partakers of his nature 
— we must be like him. We cannot properly understand one 
another without congeniality of disposition. To see the 
beauty of a great poem, one must have the elements of po- 
etry in his own nature. To appreciate heroism or self- 
sacrifice in another, there must be something of these noble 
qualities in ourselves. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to 
give us this likeness to God. It is he that worketh in us. 
However brightly the beams of divine truth may shine on 
an unholy mind, it does not see. The unholy do not see 
x (92) 



TWENTIETH NIGHT. 9c 



the light, because they do not love the light. The light 
shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not. To 
see God is to be near to him. The nearer we get, the clearer 
our perception of his excellency and glory. This is the 
perfection of a believer's felicity. Blessed be God! in his 
presence what fullness of joy, in his smile what a heaven 
of delight, under the shadow of his wings what a heaven of 
rest ! The complete fulfillment of this promise will be real- 
ized in the future life. Then we shall see face to face, 
no dimming veil intervening between the soul and its 
God. 

Doctor P. To see God is to know him. See and know 
mean the same in such passages as this. This blessing is 
the culmination of all that precedes it in the foregoing 
verses. Poverty of spirit, sorrow for sin, meekness, hunger 
and thirst for righteousness, mercifulness — all, focused in the 
life of a believer, make purity of heart. The one condition 
of receiving this blessing is sincerity. If thine eye be single, 
thy whole body shall be full of light. I am trying so to live 
that I shall see God in every thing — in the little things 
of life as well as the great ones — and I rejoice in this as- 
sured belief in his providence, and in this experience of 
his love. 

Brother E. The language of the twenty-fourth Psalm 
occurs to me now. It expresses the same truth. [Reads.] 
"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ? and who shall stand 
in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart ; 
who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 
He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness 
from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them 
that seek thy face, God." Holy principles, holy affections, 
and holy habits of living are the conditions of seeing God. 



34 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



I trust, as I go forward in the Christian life, my perception 
of God grows clearer, and my enjoyment of him sweeter. 

Brother M. One thing I know: The converted soul 
sees God in a way incomprehensible to the carnal mind. 
When I was born into the new life my heart received a 
new revelation of God. I saw him in his mercy and love 
through Jesus Christ. I knew him as the God of my sal- 
vation. I was in a new world. Old things were passed 
away. One thing I believe : The full blessedness of seeing 
God is to be realized in the life to come. Here we see 
through a glass, darkly ; our vision of God is necessarily 
imperfect on earth; but then we shall see face to face. This 
hope fills me with joy, and helps me to run with patience 
the race set before me. 

The Leader. The glory of God is seen in the face of 
Jesus Christ. That we shall see Jesus as he is, and be like 
him, is presented as the crown of our immortal joys. God 
as a Spirit is the King immortal, eternal, invisible, dwell- 
ing in light which no man can approach unto ; but we shall 
see God in Christ, and live together with him. Overpow- 
ering as is the thought of actual companionship with our 
glorified Lord, let us not stagger at the promise of it 
through unbelief. 

Brother T. With a grateful heart I wish to say that I 
see God in all things — in reading his word, in my secret 
prayers, and in the events of my daily life. Brethren, I do 
believe that God directs our life in all things when we are 
willing for him to do so, and I do know that we can feel 
his presence, and rejoice in his goodness every day. In 
this sense I see God, and am happy in him. 

Brother H. What is this purity of heart of which we 
are speaking? Does it mean that we have no evil thoughts 



TWENTIETH SIGHT. 95 



or wrong desires ? If so, I do not possess it. Can we reach 
a state in which we are free from all evil thought and im- 
proper desire? 

The Leader. Do you cherish those evil thoughts and 
wrong desires? 

Brother H. Xo; I turn from them with pain, but they 
return again and again to trouble me. 

The Leader. There is no sin in being assaulted by Sa- 
tan. The Christian life is a warfare, and we must always 
have our armor on, and be ready to wield the sword of the 
Spirit. Satan will sift us as wheat. We must watch and 
pray. If we resist the devil, he will fiee from us, We are 
to go from strength to strength. We are to look not only for 
victory in these conflicts with temptation, but, blessed be 
God, we may get farther and still farther beyond their 
power to disturb either the fixedness of our faith or the 
fullness of our peace. All the fiery darts of the wicked can 
be quenched, and our peace be as a river. 

Brother H. But is it not discouraging to us to find that 
we make such slow progress? Ought we not to get above 
these conflicts? Is there such a state of rest? 

The Leader. There is a summit to every mountain, 
but it is not reached at one bound; we must climb, climb, 
climb. Ascending Bald Mountain in California, after toil- 
ing upward over the rocksfor an hour, I paused and looked 
backward, and my head was made dizzy to see how high I 
was above the valley below. And then, looking upward, it 
grew dizzy again to see how far it was to the summit. I 
resumed the ascent, and at last stood on the apex of the 
mighty mountain, and gazed with rapture upon an illimit- 
able landscape, lost on the one side among the vast snowy 
ranges of the Sierras, and on the other in that image of in- 



96 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



finity, the ocean. The goal of victorious faith, perfect rest, 
and abounding joy, is set before us by our Lord, and there 
is a path that will lead us to it. Keep climbing, my dear 
brother. 

Brother L. My mind has been dwelling on the impor- 
tance of right Christian habits as promotive of purity of 
heart. As purity of heart means the proper state of the 
entire moral nature, so it implies holy habits in all the 
work and devotion of the Christian life. We must do the 
will of God if we would see and know him. We must also 
patiently suffer his will. I remember an illustration used 
in a sermon by the late Dr. Moore, of Nashville, referring 
to the third verse of the third chapter of Malachi. The 
refiner of silver knows his work is done when he can see 
his face reflected in the molten metal. 

Brother H. My thoughts on this topic have been di- 
rected to two points: First, What is this purity of heart? 
Second, Do I possess it ? The first question has been al- 
ready answered to my satisfaction. By the grace of God I 
trust I may answer the second affirmatively. I love God, 
and I see his hand and feel his presence in my daily life. 
I love to read his word. I love to be with his people. The 
prayer-meeting and the class-meeting are dear to me. But 
I am not satisfied. My temper is sometimes tried in my 
business dealings, and I have at times the conflicts of which 
my Brother H. spoke. But I am encouraged to go on, and 
am joyful through hope of eternal life. 

Brother E. Let us read the passage. [Reads seven- 
teenth Psalm, last verse: u As for me, I will behold thy face 
in righteousness: I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy like- 
ness."] What a beautiful parallelism with our text! Did 
not our Lord have this Psalm in mind when he spoke it? 



TWENTIETH XIGHT. 



97 



Mrs. H. Purity of heart means the absence of all evil. 

The Leader. Yes, we must not forget this negative 
view of the subject. We must be cleansed from all rilthi- 
ness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear 
of God. We can be pure in heart. We can receive the 
blessing. God give us the grace and the glory ! 






I TWENTY-FIRST NIGHT, §fr 
Unconscious Processes of Grace. 



The Topic: "And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a 
man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and 
rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he 
knoweth not how. For the earth bring eth forth fruit of herself; 
first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 
But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in 
the sickle, because the harvest is come. 11 Mark iv. 2&-29. 



The Leader. The heart of this parable, it seems to me, 
is this truth : That in the soul truly born of God and look- 
ing to Jesus, the development of the Christian life is a proc- 
ess that goes on without ceasing. There is a perpetual 
influx of the divine life into the believing soul. It is not 
an intermittent shower; it is a fountain flowing forever. It 
is not an occasional flash of light, but the shining of a sun 
that never sets. Some lives are too busy for much intro- 
spection, but the work of grace goes on amid the labors 
that are so absorbing as often to crowd out the conscious 
thought of God. Nothing but the willful turning of the 
soul from the Lord can interrupt its growth in grace. As 
branches of the living Vine, the life of God flows forever 
(98) 



TWENTY- FIEST NIGHT 99 



into the believing heart. Can there be a more cheering 
thought or sweeter experience than this? Every believer 
may rejoice in the consciousness of an indwelling Savior. 

Brother S. To me the parable suggests the truth that 
the seeds we sow in faith may be left to the quickening in- 
fluence of the Holy Spirit and the nurture of God's good 
providence. Where there is the germ of a true spiritual 
life we may confidently look for the orderly development 
of the kingdom of God in all the fruits of holiness. This 
may not be the main idea of the parable, but this sugges- 
tion from it has brought comfort and encouragement to my 
heart. Blessed be God, I do know that what has been said 
is true: there is a growth in the Christian life that culmi- 
nates in perfect love and unbroken peace. I humbly rejoice 
in this experience, and would glorify the Lord Jesus Christ 
by this testimony. [Amen.] 

Brother H. The inspiration of the parable to me lies 
in the fact of the certainty of the growth of the seed. The 
yearning of the soul for purity, for strength, for enlarge- 
ment in the knowledge and love of God, shall be satisfied. 
First the blade, then the stalk, then the full corn in the 
ear. The sincere heart is good ground for the seed of the 
kingdom, and under the influence of the Spirit brings forth 
the fruits of righteousness, just as with sunshine and shower 
the earth brings forth flower, and fruit, and grain. 

Mrs. H. When I lived in the country my husband al- 
ways kept hogs enough about the farm to root up and de- 
stroy nearly all the seeds I planted. And so Satan coun- 
teracts our efforts to do good and to get good, as we are 
taught in the parable of the sower. [See Mark iv. 15.] 

The Leader. But the mischief done by the hogs did 
not cause you to stop sowing, did it? I know a cotton- 



100 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



planter who had to replant almost his entire cotton-crop 
this year. The second planting was successful, and he has 
now the prospect of a large yield. We must not be dis- 
couraged or become inactive because some of our efforts 
seem utterly to fail. Sometimes we fail where our expec- 
tations are highest, and again we succeed where we scarcely 
hoped at all. "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the 
evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not 
whether shall prosper either this or that, or whether they 
shall both be alike good." (Ecc. xi. 6.) This was said ages 
ago, and every true-hearted worker has found it happily 
true in his own experience. 

[Here several members of the Class related illustrative 
incidents in their lives, some of which were very striking 
and apposite.] 

Brother L. I have been disposed to interpret this par- 
able objectively rather than subjectively. It seems to be 
analogous to that of the mustard-seed. The beginnings of 
great moral and religious movements are often small. God 
works mysteriously but irresistibly in the evolution of his 
purposes of goodness and mercy to the human family. The 
mystery of this growth is the special point here, and we 
fall back upon the great truth that it is the same mighty 
God who works in the kingdom of nature and in the king- 
dom of heaven. 

A Baptist Lady. I feel comforted by what has been 
said, and am grateful and happy in the belief that tlie Lord 
has planted the seeds of a new life in my soul, and that he 
will perfect that which he has begun. 

Brother H. "So is the kingdom of God, as if a man 
should cast seed into the ground" — the sowing is our work, 
the results are with God. Paul may plant, and Apollos 



TWENTY- FIRST NIGHT. 101 



may water, but God must give the increase. We must sow 
and cultivate our fields, and then leave the rest to the op- 
eration of the forces of nature. The earth bringeth forth 
fruit of itself only when it is shined upon by the sun and 
watered by the showers. So while we can expect no fruit 
without labor on our own part, it is by God's blessing alone 
that success may be expected. 

The Leader. The apostle expresses your thought thus : 
" Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for 
it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do accord- 
ing to his good pleasure." God works in us, and I repeat 
that the development of the Christian life proceeds without 
ceasing in every soul that does not willfully depart from 
the living God. Even the unconscious movement of the 
devout and aspiring soul is ever toward God. Even in 
dreams such souls are touched by the divine hand, and the 
sleeping mirror of the soul reflects the images of heavenly 
things. 

Mrs. G. (with much animation.) I know that is true. 
Comfort is whispered and burdens lifted from the troubled 
soul in dreams of the night. 

The Leader. Such lias been the experience of many 
holy men and women in all ages. Kead Bishop Ken's 
"Midnight" hymn (page 700, in our hymn-book). The 
last couplet of the fourth verse is exceedingly fine: 

All loose, all idle thoughts cast out, 
And make my very dreams devout. 

O brethren, the heavenly light shines upon, and the heav- 
enly love pours into, the soul of the believer forever, ai}d 
we may be all light in the Lord and filled always with the 
fullness of God. [Amen.] 



TWENTY-SECOND NIGHT. | 
Looking Unto Jesus. 



The Topic : "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of 
our faith." Heb. xii. 2. 

The Leader. Experience rather than exegesis is our 
object. But we must not forget that experience embraces 
new thought as well as fresh feeling and impulse. A new 
idea is a new experience. We are to grow in knowledge as 
well as grace. Meditation on our topic during the week 
has been to me delightful and profitable. It has drawn me 
nearer to Jesus as my Prophet, Priest, and King. I looked 
to him and found strength, comfort, and hope in the begin- 
ning of my Christian life, and I am looking to him now 
with a great joy in my heart. His grace introduced me 
into the race that I am running, and his hand will present 
the prize at the end. 

Brother B. In the earlier stages of my religious life I 
was greatly troubled by doubts and fears, and made tor- 
tuous paths ; but for many years I have not had a doubt. 
I can say that the life I now live is by the faith of the Son 
of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am try- 
ing to run with patience, looking to Jesus. If I blunder 
(102) 



TWENTY-SECOND SIGHT. 103 



or fall, I rise again and press forward. I want patience to 
have its perfect work, that I may be perfect and entire, 
wanting nothing. I think I am learning to enter into the 
spirit of that notable saying of St. James, that we may ac- 
count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations, know- 
ing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience expe- 
rience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed, 
because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the 
Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

The Leader. The true philosophy of that saying of the 
practical apostle is this: that the believer, as a good soldier 
of Jesus Christ, goes joyfully into the battle, knowing that 
he shall come out victor, feeling that, though he can do 
nothing of himself, he can do all things through Christ 
which strengtheneth him. 

Brother H. It is in looking at Jesus as the Son of man 
that I get near to him and take hold of him. In Jesus 
God has translated himself to us in language that we can 
understand. \Yhen I look to Jesus weeping at the grave of 
his friend Lazarus, healing the sick, comforting the sor- 
rowing, pitying and pardoning the guilty, agonizing in the 
garden, and dying on the cross, I know that he loves me; 
I feel it, and my soul is filled with joy. 

Mrs. B. I have nearly all my life been looking to Jesus 
as my Savior, and his grace has kept me to this hour. As 
he was the author, so I have the sweet hope that he will 
be the finisher, of my faith. I am encouraged to go on, 
trusting in him. 

Brother S. I am a young Christian, but I find such 
happiness in Christ, and am so supported by him in my 
weakness and inexperience, that I trust I shall be able to 
run the whole length of the Christian race. 



104 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



Mrs. W. The thought which is uppermost in my mind 
has not been brought out by others, and that is, that in this 
life we have such great need of patience, such continual de- 
mand for the exercise of it. The Lord gives us burdens to 
carry that are heavy, and thorns in the flesh that are pain- 
ful. 

The Leader. There is a mystery here which only ex- 
perience can solve. The secret of the Lord is with them 
that fear him. In the midst of the fires we look to Jesus, 
the man of sorrows, who has himself trodden the path of 
pain and tasted of the bitter cup of grief. By the disci- 
pline of pain and grief the finishing touches are given to 
Christian character. 

Mrs. K. Do you think that the bright, sunny lives that 
we sometimes see among the followers of Jesus are neces- 
sarily inferior in their development of Christian charac- 
ter? 

The Leader. I would not answer hastily, for I have 
seen many beautiful lives that seemed to grow wholly in 
the sunshine of prosperity, and I have known many Chris- 
tians to die young, before grief or disappointment had 
clouded their lives. But we may suppose that somewhat 
of beauty, sweetness, and polish was lost to them because 
they escaped the discipline of sorrow. 

Doctor W. The believer looks to Jesus always while 
running the Christian race, but his peace and joy are not 
always equally abounding. A man with his finger in a vise 
which is being pressed more and more tightly is hardly 
conscious of any thing but the pain. So, in our heavy af- 
flictions, there is, for the time being, only the realization 
that the sky is dark and the way rugged. Then we wait 
upon God, walking by faith. Weeping may endure for a 



TWEXTY-SECOXD NIGHT. 105 



night, but joy cometh in the morning. In looking to Jesus 
we have not the promise of exemption from trial and sor- 
row, but we do have the promise of grace to conquer and 
keep us to the end. 

Mrs. K. I am looking to Jesus, and, blessed be his name, 
I find him precious to my soul. I look to him for every 
thing, and find him a present Savior. But my mind has 
been a little disturbed by a recent experience: I have 
prayed earnestly for the conversion of certain persons, and 
my petitions have not been answered. 

The Leader. Do not be in haste to conclude that your 
prayers have not been heard. Every true prayer is heard 
by our God. He always sends his Spirit in answer to 
prayer, but we must not forget that he does not override 
free agency. The subjects of our prayers can resist the 
divine influence which they feel. But do not give up the 
struggle, my sister. The delay may be a part of the an- 
swer. I have known mothers to pray for their children for 
many long, weary years, and seemingly in vain, but, hold- 
ing on to the horns of the altar of God in the strength of 
a living faith, they have plucked them from the jaws of 
hell at last. Pray on, and you will prevail. 

Mrs. H. (a Baptist lady). I am glad I accepted the in- 
vitation to attend this class-meeting. I have been instruct- 
ed and comforted by thv, exercises. For many years I 
have been looking to Jesus, and in great trials and sorrows 
he has been my sure support. Though the least worthy of 
all his followers, my hope in him is inexpressibly sweet. 

Mrs. S. (an aged believer of four-score years). I am glad 
that I have once more enjoyed the privilege of attending 
a class-meeting. It is good to be here. It brings back old 
times. Mv time is short. Prav for me. 



106 



BIBLE NIGHTS. 



The Leader. We must close. Let us all be encouraged 
to look to Jesus with unwavering trust, and run with pa* 
tience the race set before us, cheered by the promise that, 
as the fruition of all our hopes and toils, we shall see the 
King in his beauty, and be like him, for we shall see him 
as he is. 



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jTWENTY-THIRD NIGHT,^ 

Jesus the Door. 



The Topic : tl I am the door:'' John x. 9. 



The Leader. The meaning is simply tins: that Jesus 
is the way of access to God. Xo man cometh unto the 
Father but by him. There is no other name given under 
heaven and among men whereby v^e can be saved. This, 
in brief, is what I believe this text means. And I know 
that Jesus is the door. He is the door of pardon, the door 
of peace, of comfort, of joy, of hope. This I know, and this 
is the thought that fills me with gratitude to-night: that 
God has manifested himself to us in his Son, and that we 
can understand, love, and get near to him. Blessed Jesus! 
the door that stands open wide for all. 

Brother S. I know that Jesus is the door. It is a 
blessed experience to me that entering into the fold by 
him we find salvation — salvation from sin, from fear, from 
doubt, perfect freedom and perfect rest to the soul. I en- 
joy this rest now, and expect to enjoy it always. 

Judge E. When I was a boy I was told that God was a 
Spirit, but I did not know what a spirit was, and I do not 

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108 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



know what a spirit is now. God seemed to be afar off and 
incomprehensible to me; but when I got old enough to 
read the New Testament, I found that my thought and af- 
fection could take hold of Jesus. I could understand him 
and I could love him. If this text had not been put into 
the New Testament, I am sure it would have been formu- 
lated, substantially, in the experience of every true Chris- 
tian. 

Brother H. I can understand the love of God when I 
see Jesus weeping with Mary and Martha, healing the sick, 
making the deaf to hear and the blind to see. I can trust 
that love and rejoice in it to-night. 

Colonel M. The door is the way of entrance to the 
house, or fold; it is made for this use. All who have come 
to this class-meeting have come in by the door, and were 
welcomed heartily. A person detected in an attempt to 
climb up by the back windows of this house would be looked 
upon as a probable thief or robber, and would have a dif- 
ferent reception. The willfulness, and wickedness, and pride 
of men lead them to reject Jesus as the door. They try to 
climb up some other way — by their morality, their forms, 
or something else. It is only when the heart is melted and 
humbled by the Holy Spirit that it is ready to enter by the 
door. 

Mrs. S. We have a hymn that happily expresses that 
truth — the one beginning, "Come, ye sinners, poor and 
needy." 

The Leader. Let us sing the first and third verses of 
that hymn, sacred to thousands: 

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, 

Weak and wounded, sick and sore; 
Jesus ready stands to save you, 



TWENTY- THIRD NIGHT. 1 09 



Full of pity, love, and power: 

He is able, 
He is willing: doubt no more. 

Let not conscience make you linger, 

Nor of fitness fondly dream: 
All the fitness he requireth 

Is to feel your need of him: 
This he gives you, 

'Tis the Spirit's glimm'ring beam. 

Brother C. The thought that is uppermost in my mind 
is this: that entering into the fold by Jesus we find a full 
and unceasing supply for all our wants — we are saved fully 
and forever. The complement of our text is found in Rev- 
elation, second chapter, twentieth verse. Will you read 
it? [The Leader reads: "Behold, I stand at the door and 
knock. If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I 
will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with 
me. :, j These two scriptures run together in my mind, and 
from them I get the same essential truth, namely, that in 
Jesus we find the mercy that pardons, the grace that sancti- 
fies, the strength that supports, the love that comforts us, at 
all times and in all conditions of life. 

Mrs. G. I know that Jesus is the door, and in the fold I 
have found rest and security, peace and comfort. But my 
great anxiety is that others dear to me shall enter in at 
the open door. I pray for stronger faith. 

The Leader. That is what the whole Church needs — 
such a persuasion of the power and willingness of Jesus to 
save all men as will inspire a glowing zeal and a mighty 
effort that none can resist. May God awaken us all ! If we 
were fully alive to this blessed truth, the dying multitudes 
would be pressing their way to Jesus. 



110 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



Mrs. W. God has manifested himself to us in Jesus so 
that we can touch him and lay hold of him. He spoke to 
Abraham face to face, and to Moses and the prophets he 
revealed himself directly from time to time; but in Jesus 
he tabernacled with men, and now he abides with them for- 
ever by his Spirit. 

Brother P. The thought strikes me with particular 
force that Jesus is the door, not a door. The folly and per- 
verseness that leads men to rely on their own devices for 
salvation excites my surprise and pity when I see the open 
door provided for them by the mercy and wisdom of our 
heavenly Father. 

Sister P. I know the door. [Spoken simply and ear- 
nestly, with a beaming face.] 

Judge E. How many are there in this company who 
would be willing to exchange their experience of the great 
truth we are considering for all the theology of the books? 

The Leader. Blessed be God that this precious and 
vital truth is an actual experience attainable by every man 
and woman ! We not only believe— we know. 



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| TWENTY-FOURTH NIGHT. ? 

Blessedness of the Poor in Spirit. 



The Topic : "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the 
kingdom of heaven.'' Matt. v. 3. 



The Leader. My studies in the word of God and my 
experience in the Christian life teach me that poverty of 
spirit is the primary Christian grace. Poverty means in- 
digence, lack. Poverty of spirit is consciousness of need. 
Perhaps there is no one present whose experience has not 
embraced this truth, that we must be emptied of pride and 
self-dependence before we can receive the kingdom of 
heaven. We must enter by the strait gate of humility. 
There is no other way. The exegesis which says that this 
verse means that the poor in spirit are on the path to the 
kingdom of heaven, that they have it by anticipation, that 
it is initially theirs, does not satisfy me. Blessed are the 
poor in spirit — theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The grace 
attained, the blessing enjoyed, are in the present tense. I 
prefer not to discount our Lord's words, or refine his mean- 
ing. He means what he says, and he seems to say here 
that whenever the soul feels its spiritual need and its de- 
pendence upon God, and turns to him trustfully it enters 

(in) 



112 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



at once into the kingdom of heaven, becomes a citizen of 
that kingdom, enjoying its rights, privileges, and blessings. 
Emptied of the world and self, it is at once filled with God. 
This was my own experience. I stepped out of self into 
Christ. Renunciation of the world in the true sense of the 
word was followed by the setting up within me of that 
kingdom of heaven which is righteousness, peace, and joy 
in the Holy Ghost. What was my experience then is my 
experience now — the attitude of the soul that brings the 
kingdom of heaven into the believing heart keeps it there, 
but in ever-increasing fullness of blessing. 

Brother H. I have referred to parallel texts and cog- 
nate teachings in the Bible, and have been greatly im- 
pressed with the number and richness of the passages that 
teach the blessedness of poverty of spirit, humility, contri- 
tion, and self-abnegation. [Here he quoted a number of 
striking texts bearing on this point.] And as I read, I 
prayed that this grace might be mine. I think I see this 
truth more clearly, and hope to walk in the light more 
fully. 

Doctor E. I do not remember when I first attended a 
class-meeting. I attended it w r hen a boy, and enjoyed it. 
In those early days I had an experience that led me to un- 
derstand practically the interpretation of the text given by 
the Leader, which I indorse. But we must bear in mind 
to whom our Lord was speaking, and the primary meaning 
of his words. The kingdom of heaven was at hand — not the 
sort of kingdom expected by the disciples, but a spiritual 
kingdom in which the badge of distinction was to be not 
rank or power, but service; the kingdom was not of the 
sort concerning which they disputed, but it was of that 
nature symbolized by the little child set in their midst. 



TWENTY- FO UBTH NIGHT. 113 



As I grow older 1 am led to see that the poverty of spirit, 
the humility that is of value to me is not so much that of 
which I am subjectively conscious when in private medita- 
tion or prayer, but that which enables me to bear myself 
as a disciple of Christ in my contact with men in active 
life. 

Brother P. Good people, who have been truly con- 
verted and entered upon the Christian life, often seem to 
lose the humility which was so attractive in the beginning. 
Why is this? 

The Leader. In this as In other instances the very 
blessings the Lord bestows upon his children may be per- 
verted into sources of temptation. Humble persons become 
proud of their humility. An ostentatious humility is a 
form of human weakness we often meet. True humility is 
not self-conscious, but simple, child-like. We all need to 
watch at this point, lest the very blessings received from 
the Lord at one time should be made the occasion of pride 
and vainglory at another. I repeat, the self-renunciation 
and simple trust that bring the kingdom of heaven into 
our hearts must be maintained if we would keep it there. 

Sister H. To me the significance and comfort of the 
verse is in the word u kingdom." I rejoice that Jesus is 
my king as well as prophet and priest, and that I have cit- 
izenship in his kingdom, enjoying all the privileges, and 
happy to perform all the duties, belonging to that relation. 
All the riches of that kingdom are mine, and all the power 
of the. King is pledged for my support and defense. 

Brother L. The sermons I have heard on the Beati- 
tudes, so called, seem to bring them to a finer point than 
our Lord intended. The meaning is beaten out till it be- 
comes too thin. The blessing promised to the poor in spir- 



114 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



it, to those that mourn, and to those that hunger and thirst 
after righteousness, is the same, sparkling like a diamond 
as it flashes light from different angles. 

Sister S. I want to ask a question here. We often hear 
good Christians say the day of their conversion was the 
happiest of their lives. Ought this to be so? Should not 
the joys of religion increase as we go on in the Christian 
life? 

The Leader. They who say their joy was greatest at 
conversion are in most cases mistaken, I think. The Chris- 
tian life makes no such anti-climax as that. Its path grows 
brighter and brighter. All first experiences are the most 
vivid. The first great sorrow of life may not be the heav- 
iest, but it lingers longest in the memory. The first joys 
of religion come under the same law; having the freshness 
of novelty, they stand out with peculiar vividness in the 
retrospect of the Christian's life-journey. The first half- 
dollar I ever owned when a little boy is an experience 
never forgotten. The possession of hundreds or thousands 
in maturer years does not efface the memory of that first 
grand feeling of ownership; but the boy with the half- 
dollar is to the man with his hundreds or thousands what 
the young convert is to the advanced believer who has for 
years been growing in grace and in the knowledge of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. 



^TWENTY-FIFTH NIGHT, f^# 

<«« — >-«^— « >»» ■ 

Christ's Joy Our Joy- 

The Topic: "These words have I spoken unto you that my 
joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." 
John xv. 11. 

The Leader. The joy of Christ is the joy of conscious 
communion with his Father; the joy of willing, loving serv- 
ice; the joy of fruitfulness — especially this last. The dis- 
ciple is identified with his Lord in relationship, in service, 
and in destiny. His union with him is vital as a living 
branch of the living Vine. Do I possess this joy? Yes, in 
my measure. Through grace my heavenly Father hath 
revealed himself in my heart. I am glad to serve him, his 
commandments are not grievous to me, and I have an abid- 
ing persuasion that fruitfulness will follow fidelity. The 
thought goes deep; my joy is the same as that of my Sav- 
ior — the same in kind, though inferior in degree: he was 
anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows. It will 
be perfected in the end — " fulfilled u is the true reading 
here. Fulfilled! The word is large; it goes beyond my 
present comprehension, but I will know what it means 
when, as a joint heir with Christ, I shall enter fully into 
the possession of the inheritance of the saints in light. This 

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116 - . BIBLE NIGHTS. 



hope cheers me and strengthens my purpose to be true to 
Jesus. 

Brother S. This text has long been a precious one to 
me. The joy of Christ in me is the witness of the Holy 
Spirit that I am a child of God. This 1 enjoy continually 
by simple faith. For fourteen years it has been uninter- 
rupted. I have had conflicts, perplexities, pain, sorrow, 
but my joy has been full all these years. I entered into it 
by faith, taking my Lord at his word. 

Brother B. I have known this joy thirty-six years — 
not always in its fullness, but by God's grace I have never 
apostatized, and I know it grows deeper and sweeter. Dur- 
ing these years my estimate of many things has changed: 
things that once seemed to me very important and valu- 
able I came to regard as insignificant trifles; but my re- 
ligious hope, comfort, and joy have become more and more 
real and precious. This joy abides. 

Brother G. My religious joy is sometimes very full, 
but not always. I have seasons of depression. Is this nec- 
essary ? 

The Leader. There is no provision in the gospel ior 
an intermittent spiritual life. Union with the living Vine 
brings unfailing life to the believing soul. Bat, my broth- 
er, do not mistake conflict and trial for loss of the joy of 
your Lord. That joy is spiritual, and therefore beyond the 
reach of external calamity. In the world you may have 
tribulation, but in Jesus peace. As a young preacher, seek 
the fullness of God. How can you preach the gospel a? 
you ought without it? The gospel is glad tidings, and 
should be proclaimed with a glad heart. 

Brother L. The joy of Christ is an unselfish joy. We 
must therefore be unselfish if we would have his joy re- 



TWENTY- FIFTH NIGHT 117 



main in us. The joy of comforting, helping, and saving 
others is the true Christian joy. I am therefore to go not 
where I feel most comfortable, but where I can do most good. 
It is very pleasant for me to go to McKendree Church on 
Sunday, and sit in a cushioned seat and hear Dr. Barbee's 
excellent sermons; but if I can be more useful elsewhere, I 
should surrender that pleasure for a higher end — fruitful- 
ness. 

The Leader. Thank you, brother, for that word. We 
had in this Class a dear brother who illustrated this point 
[alluding to the late Kobert Weakley Brown]. He loved 
McKendree Church, in which he was converted, and from 
whose communion he went up to the joys of the Church 
triumphant. His seat was often vacant, but all who knew 
him understood that it was because he was away holding 
or aiding in a service where he was specially needed. His 
footprints are still found all about Nashville. Like his 
Master, he went about doing good; and now he has en- 
tered fully into his joy. 

Sister K. A severe trial came upon me and threatened 
to interrupt my religious peace and joy. I was tempora- 
rily disturbed, shaken. \But the Lord was my helper; he 
has made a daily cross a constant blessing. 

Brother S. My Christian life was shallow and unsatis- 
fying until I got rid of the notion that it meant personal 
enjoyment rather than doing good to others. 

The Leader. A blessed paradox realized in every true 
Christian life. We never find substantial and abiding joy 
until we cease to seek it. "He that will lose his life shall 
save it." If we live Christ's life, we shall have Christ's joy. 

Sister B. I want to follow Christ, but my duty is not 
plain to me. What am I to do ? 



118 



BIBLE NIGHTS. 



The Leader. If you do not know what step to take, 
stand still. Wait on God ; this waiting is often a part of 
the preparation for future service. A plain path will be 
opened to you in due time, and it will shine in the light of 
the Lord. Wait and be ready. 




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TWENTY-SIXTH NIGHT, jj- 

Hallowing God's Name. 



The Topic: "Hallowed be thy name," Matt. vi. 9. 



The Leader. The name of God is God himself. That 
-which is hallowed is set apart, consecrated, held sacred. 
In our thoughts, in our speech, in our lives, we hallow 
the holy name of God. This means that we must take 
time to think of God. Xo life is too hurried for this. Time 
must be set apart for it. At least once a day we should be 
alone with God. "We must concentrate our thoughts upon 
him ; a habit of doing so makes it easy as well as delight- 
ful. The thought of God as the All-Perfect One— perfect 
wisdom, perfect holiness, perfect goodness, perfect love — 
grows upon him who dwells upon it until it pervades, dom- 
inates, exalts, and blesses the whole being. This is the last 
class -meeting for 1879, and our hearts should be full of 
thankfulness and joy for this means of grace which has 
helped us through the past year, and which promises so 
much help for the next. Hallowed be God's holy name! 

Brother H. It has been questioned whether the words 

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120 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



Hallowed be thy name have the nature of a petition at all. I 
look upon it as an expression of adoration toward God, and 
also of petition. It puts us into a right attitude toward our 
heavenly Father, and conveys the wish and prayer that all 
men shall be brought into the same disposition. In my 
business I hear a great deal of profanity, and I have had 
my mind especially directed to this sin during the week. 

The Leader. As you hear so much profanity from day 
to day, do you get used to it so that it ceases to shock your 
moral sense? 

Brother H. No; profanity does not cease to pain me, 
and I usually reprove it. Sometimes I think good is done 
in this way. 

The Leader. That is right. A crying sin of the times 
is irreverence, and it is a Christian's duty to combat it on 
all suitable occasions. 

Brother L. I look upon the phrase Hallowed be thy 
name, and the two which immediately follow it, not as a 
petition, but rather as the expression of the soul's adora- 
tion, trust, and submission to God. When a suppliant ap- 
proaches any great and powerful personage with a suit, a 
recognition of his dignity, and power, and greatness is ex- 
pected to be made. So it is in this form of words with 
which we approach the infinite and blessed God. 

The Leader suggested the analogy between the Deca- 
logue and the Lord's Prayer — both begin with what is due 
to God, and end with what pertains to human need and re- 
lationship. 

Sister C. I love to think of God with reverence and 
love, and during the week have done so with delight. 

The Leader. Do you have stated times for meditating 
upon God and his truth ? 



TWENTY- SIXTH SIGHT. 121 



Sister C. Not always. The circumstances sometimes 
forbid it; but no day passes without it. 

Sister G. I find the morning the best time for private 
devotion. I begin the day with it. 

Sister S. It suits me better after I have all the house 
set to rights. 

Sister M. If I waited for that in my family, I would 
not do it at all. 

The Leader. Circumstances and temperaments differ, 
and no fixed rule can be made for all. What we should in- 
sist upon is that we shall have religious habits, that our re- 
ligious life should be systematized. If it is necessary that 
earthly business should be carried on according to system, 
how much more the higher life! It was this that made 
Methodists; they had a method of religious living; they 
lived according to rale, as all Christians should. If some 
particular time is not set apart for devotion, it will most 
likely be crowded out altogether. The young people pres- 
ent will please not forget this. At least once a day be alone 
with God if you can. 

Sister M. Is it wrong in conversation to speak the 
name of God? I speak it often, and it gives me pleasure 
to do so. 

The Leader. Certainly it is not wrong to speak the 
sacred name of Him who occupies your thoughts, and 
whose presence and providence pervades your life. In 
avoiding irreverence we must be careful not to run into 
superstition. 

Mrs. H. I have lived so much alone that my opportuni- 
ties for private devotion have been ample. I find the morn- 
ing the best season of the day for religious thought, read- 
ing, and prayer. 



122 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



The Leader. What I would emphasize is the impor- 
tance of religious habits — the habits of meditation, attentive 
reading or study of the Bible, and of prayer. This law of 
habit is of unspeakable importance in the Christian life. 
But do not let the habit lapse into a mere routine. In your 
reading and your thought do not hurry from one thing to 
another just for the sake of seeming to get on. The body 
at times has need of particular articles of food, and the ap- 
petite calls for them. It is wise to heed the indications 
of nature, and build up the physical organism with what 
meets its present wants. So with the soul. All Scripture 
is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable; but it is 
not all equally profitable at all times and for all persons. 
The soul has special wants as well as the body. The spir- 
itual aliment needed may be found at one time in one class 
of scriptures, and at another time in another. Stick to a 
chapter or a verse as long as you get from it fresh sugges- 
tion, inspiration, or comfort. Think on any particular as- 
pect of religious truth as long as it furnishes nutriment to 
your spiritual nature. Dig deep where you find the gold. 



Y 



| TWENTY-SEVENTH NIGHT. 



Spiritual Restoration. 



The Topic : "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, yc 
which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meek- 
ness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.'' 1 Gal. vi. 1. 



The Leader. The meaning is not that the fault over- 
takes the erring brother, but that he is overtaken, detected 
in his wrong-doing. When a man soils his soul with sin, it 
is because he consents — it is his own act. It gives a true 
Christian a shock to discover flagrant wrong-doing in one 
who was believed to be good and true. The natural dispo- 
sition is to turn away from such with indignation and dis- 
gust. But this is not the spirit of true religion, which is 
charitable, sympathetic, patient, hopeful. These two facts 
are here put together: First, that Christians are liable to 
go astray; and second, that there is lodged in the Church a 
power that may be successfully exerted for their restora- 
tion. Is there not now a special call in all the Church for 
the exercise of this reclaiming power? Who can number 
the backslidden in life and the backslidden in heart? This 
work of reclamation is to be done by a faithful pastorate, as- 

(123) 



124 BIBLE SIGHTS. 



sisted by the spiritual element in the Church. It seems to 
me that no Christian need be in doubt as to whether he may 
properly be classed with the spiritually-minded. You know 
whether you love the Lord Jesus Christ; you know wheth- 
er you love his Church ; you know whether your life is dom- 
inated by carnal or by spiritual motives. There is work on 
this line to be done by all who have a heart for it — work 
that an angel might well be willing to come down from 
heaven to do. 

Brother R. This helpfulness and meekness are the fruit 
of the Holy Spirit within us. Without it we have neither 
the disposition nor the ability to bring back an erring 
brother. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is 
none of his, and without that Spirit he cannot be Christ-like 
in word or deed. Christ is our exemplar in this service. 
He was tender, patient, meek, and so we must be. He seeks 
and saves the lost by us. He lays on us the duty, puts be- 
fore us the privilege, and endues with the requisite grace 
for the discharge of this noblest function of true disciple- 
ship. If even a small number among the multitudes in 
the Church were fully tuned for this holy service, and were 
heartily engaged in it, we would see a great revival, and 
the restoration of many erring souls to peace. 

Miss W. I am often checked in my direct efforts to re- 
store the erring by the consciousness of my own short-com- 
ings. The best influence is that of good example; it speaks 
louder than words. All my life I have been where I knew 
my influence was felt in one way or the other every day, 
and I have found it necessary to be careful lest I should do 
harm by giving precept beyond my practice. 

The Leader. That is wisely thought and well said ; but 
take this deduction: Strive to attain the largest measure of 



TWENTY- SEVENTH NIGHT. 125 



spirituality, so that precept and practice may both be posi- 
tive, clear, and telling. 

Sister B. I find it difficult at times to determine how 
to act with reference to those in my circle who seem to be 
going wrong. I am afraid I might do harm by speaking, 
and so I am silent, even when my solicitude is sincere and 
strong; but I do covet the grace and the privilege of fol- 
lowing my Savior in this form of Christian service. 

The Leader. Yes, a discreet silence, with earnest prayer 
and exemplary living, may be the best manner of dealing 
with some cases. But are we not more likely to err from a 
too timid silence than from a blundering zeal? 

Sister R. The purest joy of my life has come to me 
when I tried to bring back a wanderer to the path of duty, 
and the grace of God gave me some little success in the ef- 
fort. I know well enough when my heart is rightly tuned 
for such work as this — the Spirit itself beareth witness to 
his own gracious presence and power. 

Brother S. I am saddened by memories of opportuni- 
ties lost. Death has taken beyond my reach some that I 
ought to have helped, and might have helped, had I been 
alive to my duty. 

The Leader. Forget the things that are behind, and 
reach forth to those that are before. You cannot forget ab- 
solutely, but you can look forward and move forward to the 
gracious possibilities of acceptable service here, and to the 
glorious certainties of reward hereafter. Look to Jesus, and 
press onward, my brother. 

Brother G. The spirituality that will fit us for this 
service may be defined as loving God with all our heart, 
soul, and mind, and our neighbor as ourselves. This is the 
preparation I desire. 



126 



BIBLE NIGHTS. 



Brother O. I have found that while the efforts I have 
made to restore and strengthen others have not always been 
successful, my own soul has been blessed while I was thus 
employed. 

The Leader. Your peace shall return unto you. No 
labor of this sort is lost. If the objective results wished 
for are not realized, your own soul gets the blessing. 











-4 TWENTY-EIGHTH NIGHT, f- 



a, ^ oh 
Leaves Only. 



The Topic: "Leaves only," Matt. xxi. 19. 



The Leader. A fig-tree is expected to produce figs. A 
shade-tree fulfills its function in giving shade. Every tree 
in the garden of the Lord is expected to bring forth fruit. 
Each Christian has gifts differing according to the grace 
given. The barren fig-tree here is a symbol of the Jewish 
nation in the time of our Lord — a mass of formalism, self- 
righteousness, and bigotry. The Jewish nation is a warn- 
ing to us. The lesson is that there must be not only pro- 
fession, but practice. It is a duty to make a profession of 
religion. This duty is equally binding on all men and 
women. It is a sin not to make the good profession. It is 
also a sin not to live up to it afterward. The Master ex- 
pects fruit. Our faith must be proved by our works. The 
world expects this. A failure invokes the displeasure of 
God and the distrust of the world. A man who professes 
Christianity, and yet does not in his life rise above the level 
of the outside world, disappoints reasonable expectation, 

(127) 



128 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



and incurs fearful guilt and danger. The withered fig-tree, 
then, is the symbol of a soul that has perished in sin. Per- 
ished — how significant the word! Therefore be ye neither 
barren nor unfruitful in the work of the Lord, forasmuch 
as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. For 
myself, I am resolved, God being my helper, to be faith- 
ful, and hope to hear at the great day the words which 
will be the prelude to a joyful eternity, "Well done." 
[Amen.] 

Brother K. The curse that follows spiritual barren- 
ness sometimes falls suddenly, like the withering of the 
fig-tree. Men hesitate, postpone, shirk duty, grieve the 
Holy Spirit, and harden their hearts, until at last mercy 
turns to wrath, the bolt falls, and they are lost. Chris- 
tians are to be the light of the world and the salt of the 
earth. The world has a right to expect from them good 
counsel and good example, instruction, and help. They 
grow by the wayside ; they hold a place in the Church that 
they may be known and read of all men, and that they 
may the more effectually glorify God in the service of 
humanity. I desire to have not only the form, but the 
reality of a true Christian life. Having joyfully professed 
to be a follower of Christ, I want to be his follower in- 
deed. 

Brother B. I am surprised and grieved that my Chris- 
tian life is not more fruitful. Almost every day I resolve 
to be a more useful man, but go on as before. 

The Leader. The desire to be more fruitful in the 
Lord's work is a gracious desire. Perhaps, brother, you 
are looking too far away, or too far ahead. This life is 
made up of little things. There is something now just at 
your hand — do that, and then something else will present 



TWENTY- EIGHTH NIGHT. 1 29 



itself. The opportunity we sweep the distant horizon to 
discover lies invitingly at our feet in the path of every-day 
life. 

Brother L. This text and its context, it seems to me, is 
intended more to teach us the power of true faith than any 
thing else. But, taking the symbolic use that commenta- 
tors make of it, I ask what is it to be fruitful in the Chris- 
tian life? It is well for us to come here to the class-meet- 
ing, and to the prayer-meetings, and other services of the 
Church; but if we do not go forth and try to bring others 
in, and to reach the unsaved masses around us, it cannot 
be said that we are bearing fruit. I enjoy these meetings, 
but I feel that there is more for us to do than to meet, and 
sing, and pray, and talk about religion. 

The Leader. That is true, and it is well for us to be 
reminded of it; but I have found that the very ones who 
love the assemblies of the saints are the ones who go about 
doing good. The praying Christians are the working 
Christians. The man who has had communion with God 
in prayer and holy song is the man who will have a ready 
word and a helping hand for his fellow-man. 

Mrs. K. It is said, I believe, that the fig-tree produces 
leaves before figs. Is there not in this a hint for us? In 
the Christian life there is first an inward work, the fruit of 
the Spirit, and then good works outwardly — possession first, 
profession afterward. When I feel the life and power of 
religion within, and my heart glows with love to God, I 
forthwith set about trying to do some good, and find a joy 
in so doing. 

Miss W. There is no lack of opportunity for me to do 
all the work for Christ that I am willing to do. I find that 
a mere routine of devotional service is not enough for me. 
9 



130 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



My spiritual life declines unless I am making special effort 
to do good to others. 

Mrs. C. Above all things I do desire to be a faithful and 
useful Christian woman. Though I have fallen short of 
my conception of what a Christian should be and do, the 
Lord has greatly blessed me; he has brought me to this 
hour with love and hope glowing in my heart. 

Mrs. L. It suits my mental mood better to-night to 
think of the parable of the barren fig-tree rather than of 
the miracle we are considering. There is in that parable 
an element of encouragement: the fact that the unfruitful 
tree did have leaves was a proof that there was some vital- 
ity still left in it, and therefore it might be reclaimed and 
yet bear fruit. The heart of the compassionate Jesus throbs 
in that parable. Let us, then, take heart for ourselves and 
for others. [Amen.] 

Mrs. O. I am grieved that I do not enjoy Christian 
work as I know I ought. The consciousness that I fall so 
far short depresses me. 

The Leader. Your dissatisfaction is a gracious dissatis- 
faction ; it is the first step toward greater fruitfulness. Sup- 
pose the Lord should say to you, "Henceforth you shall do 
no more work for me; you shall take no part in my wor- 
ship or my service; you shall not speak a word in my 
name ; you shall not give a cup of cold water to one of my 
disciples; you shall not visit, clothe, or feed any of my 
brethren " — how would you feel about it? 

Mrs. O. (earnestly). I could not stand that. I do love 
my Savior, and I do want to be a useful Christian. Pray 
for me. 

The Leader. This prayer wells up from my heart as 
we close: May each one of us hear at last from our Mas- 



TWENTY- EIGHTH NIGHT 



131 



ters lips the gracious words, "Well done!''' — not well 
wished, well dreamed, well planned, but well done — words 
that will be the password through the gate to immortal 
blessedness! [Amen.] 



•tf 



i- — g y 








{* TWENTY-NINTH NIGHT. *} 



The Incarnation. 



The Topic : The Incarnation. (Christmas Night, 1883.) 



The Leader. The more it is thought upon, the more 
wonderful is the fact of the incarnation — God mani- 
fest in the flesh. It is exceptional in the history of the 
universe, and is the wonder of angels and the joy of re- 
deemed men and women. But we take a practical and per- 
sonal view of it to-night. The question for each one of us 
is, "What does it mean to mef" It means to the believer 
salvation from sin. "He shall be called Jesus, because he 
shall save his people from their sins." This was the prom- 
ise of the annunciation, and its fulfillment to the believing 
heart makes the name of Jesus the dearest in earth or 
heaven. At my conversion the sense of pardoned sin was 
inexpressibly sweet. Sin was a burden and agony to me. I 
hated my sins, and felt that they were dragging me down 
to perdition. The pains of hell got hold of me. By faith 
I claimed Jesus as my Savior, and saw the stream his flow- 
ing wounds supply. The burden was lifted from my soul, 
and the agony of conviction was exchanged for the peace 
(132) 



TWENTY-NINTH NIGHT 133 



of God. The whole experience was supernatural — it was 
the work of God. It all comes back vividly to me when at 
the Christmas season I think of Jesus coming to seek and 
save the lost. The peace, the love, the joy I then felt are 
warm in my grateful heart at this moment. The first com- 
ing reminds me of the second coming, and heightens the 
solemn joy of this season. Jesus is coming again — when, I 
know not; how, I know not, except that it will bring a 
change of the present order of things. I am glad that 
Jesus will come again. Then the night will be past, and 
the perfect day will da vvn. May we be ready ! [Amen.] 

Doctor B. The incarnation means to me a revelation of 
God that I can understand. God out of Christ awes me, 
overpowers me, confounds me; God in Christ attracts me, 
encourages me, satisfies me. That word satisfies is a large 
one, but not too large. The truth he reveals satisfies my 
intellect ; the love he bestows satisfies my heart. I know 
whom I have believed — yes, I know Jesus, and the fact 
that he was manifested to take away our sins is a per- 
sonal experience. I feel glad and grateful this Christmas 
night. 

Brother H. Many Christmases have come and gone 
since I found peace in Jesus. My joy at this hour, though 
shadowed by the reflection that I have fallen short of what 
I might have attained and achieved during these years, is 
great. The coming of Jesus means more to me than it did 
at the start. The grace that pardoned my sins, and the love 
that has kept me amid dangers, toils, and snares, is asso- 
ciated in my mind with the coming of Jesus. 

Brother B. (an Irish brother from Iowa). I come from 
a cold country, but the love of God is warm in my heart. 
Over forty years ago the love of God was shed abroad in 



134 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



my heart by the Holy Spirit, and, glory be to God, it is 
still there! 

Doctor M. I am naturally skeptical. The supernatural 
fact of the incarnation would be incredible to me without 
supernatural attestation. Such attestation I have received, 
and the glorious fact is to me a certainty. My conversion 
was so clear that it settled all such questions with me for- 
ever. If any shadow of doubt should cross my mind, I have 
only to refer to that hour to dispel it. All that is precious 
to my experience, and in my hope as a follower of Christ, 
becomes more tangible as the years go by. 

Brother K. Our Leader spoke of the second coming of 
Christ in connection with the first. If I knew he would 
come to-morrow morning, would the thought be pleasant 
to me? My heart has been solemn yet glad as I asked my- 
self this question The thought of being with him, and 
being like him. is a joyful thought to me. I want to be 
ready when he comes ; and I wish, by the study of God's 
word and by diligence in his service, to keep laying up 
treasures in heaven. I covet an abundant entrance into 
the everlasting kingdom. I want all the good pleasure of 
God's goodness to be fulfilled in me and by me, now and 
forever. [Amen.] 

Brother B. My uppermost thought and prayer to-night 
is, that if I live to see another Christmas, it may find me a 
stronger and happier Christian. 

Sister R. The Christmas season reminds me that Jesus 
came to bring help to the needy as well as pardon to the 
guilty. I have tried to carry help and comfort to the poor, 
the friendless, and the sorrowing— and there are many of 
these even in Nashville— and while thus employed I have 
felt that Jesus was near and precious to me. 



TWENTY- NINTH SIGHT, 1 3 5 



BUOXHBB L. The incarnation is a stupendous fact, \ it 
its my a not trouble my mind. Mysteries surround 

ts of physical science we can dis- 
cover, but behind these facts lie mysteries that baffle in- 
quiry. So the facts of the gospel are sufficiently v ------ 1 I 

s when we 

we on the Lord Jesus Christ. I-i eptic once, 

skepticism was shaken by appeals to my reason, and 

was completely removed in answer to prayer and in the 

use of the means of grace. The incarnation and all the 

facts cf the gospel I accept as a : i 
God, and its results I grasp as a blessed experience. This 
revelation and this experience give me solid joy to-night, 



3 r<M?j^WmF$?&* 



% 






— *m ► - x ■» * — » >» 

| ^THIRTIETH NIGHT.^ pip 



Laborers Together with God. 



The Topic: "We are laborers together with God." 1 Cor. 
iii.9. 

The Leader. We are in partnership with God. What 
a wonderful thought ! We think of the same things that 
lie does. We are working for the same ends. The dignity 
of this relationship overpowers us. The blessedness of it 
exceeds description. The certainty of success thrills us with 
grateful joy: we cannot fail with God on our side. These 
thoughts during the week have filled me with wonder and 
delight. I have worked for my Master with a stronger 
faith and a sweeter joy. " Workers together with God ! " 
In the words I seem to feel the throb of the great heart of 
the Church universal and the power of the Almighty One. 
With this co-operation, I know that my labor shall not be 
in vain in the Lord. How exalted our privileges! How 
holy, how blessed, how glorious is the life of a true follower 
of Jesus, who is a real laborer in his vineyard! [Amen.] 

Erother H. Every Christian is a worker. My experi- 
ence is that just as soon as I was conscious of the mercy of 
(136) 



THIRTIETH NIGHT. 137 



God in the forgiveness of my sins, I wanted to do some- 
thing for his cause. I cannot understand how any one 
could be willing to receive all the blessings of the gospel 
and yet be idle. I enjoy this service. The more I work 
the happier I am. I am amazed at the honor that God 
puts on his creature man in making him a co-laborer with 
himself. 

The Leader. It is Christianity that really exalts hu- 
manity. Infidelity speaks loftily of the dignity of human 
nature, its intellectual glory, and all that sort of thing, in 
one breath, and in the next tells us that we are only ani- - 
mals that must die, rot, and go into oblivion, as all other 
beasts do. The gospel of Jesus Christ presents motives ad- 
equate for the inspiration of a life of holiness, and reveals 
a destiny equal to the utmost reach of human desire. Glory 
to God for the gospel! 

Brother L. Looked at as he is, independent of the 
Christian revelation, man is the noblest of creatures on the 
earth. But his true dignity is found in the fact that he is a 
child of God, made in his image, exalted to be a fellow- 
worker with him, and an heir of his glory. We constantly 
underrate ourselves, and as constantly fall short of our priv- 
ileges as workers together with God. I fear but a small 
proportion of the members of the Church are real workers. 
For some months I have been deeply impressed with the 
conviction that I ought to do more than I am doing, and I 
propose at once to engage in a work that seems to be ur- 
gently needed in our Church. [Here the brother detailed 
what this work was.] 

The Leader. I doubt not God has put this into your 
heart, my brother. When you begin it, do not do it as an 
experiment. Take hold of it with undoubting faith as a 



138 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



work that must be done, and which God will work with you 
in doing. 

Brother B. Immediately on my conversion I went to 
work for Christ. This was my burning desire, and it came 
from God, who worked in me to will and to do. Where 
the desire to work for the Lord is lacking, there is reason 
to fear there has been no birth into the new life. During 
the week openings for special service have appeared to me, 
and I have tried to do my duty. The past week has been 
one of unusual spiritual enjoyment to me, and I think it is 
because I have been unusually busy in trying to do good. 
We are rewarded even here for all our labors of love for 
Jesus. We don't have to wait until we get to heaven to 
enjoy God. [Amen.] I am now following up an opening 
to get a gifted friend of mine harnessed for Christian serv- 
ice where he can do great good. 

The Leader. That is a good way to work for the Mas- 
ter: put as many others into the work as you can. To help 
one another to improve in the quantity and quality of our 
work, as well as in the enjoyment of the comforts of relig- 
ion, is a chief object of our class-meeting. God help us to 
be faithful to each other in this thing ! 

A Young Lady. The work that I am trying to do for 
the Master is so difficult and so far beyond my strength 
that it weighs me down with the sense of responsibility. 

The Leader. I am glad to hear you speak that solemn 
word, responsibility. But there is another you must not 
forget— privilege. Put the former in one end of the scale, 
and the latter in the other, and let the beam incline the 
right way. The very difficulty of the work is the blessing 
of it to you. 

Brother H. The thought impresses me that if we 



THIRTIETH NIGHT. 



139 



would be laborers together with God, we must take him 
into full partnership. A half-hearted devotion to him and 
his cause will not do. We must take God fully into all our 
desires, plans, and labors. Then his strength will be our 
strength, and the pleasure of the Lord shall surely prosper 
in our hands. [Amen.] 




-## THIRTY-FIRST NIGHT, #^- 
Growing in Grace. 



The Topic : "Grow in grace." 2 Peter iii. 18. 



The Leader. At a former meeting it was suggested 
that we consider especially the obstacles that most fre- 
quently prevent growth in grace. One point has partic- 
ularly impressed my own mind, namely: That the failure 
to establish regular habits of private devotion is one of the 
most prevalent causes of weakness and failure in the Chris- 
tian life. We must pray in secret if we would be openly 
rewarded. If the religious habits break down at this point, 
the whole religious life will weaken. This view is in ac- 
cordance with my experience and observation. When I was 
a very young Christian I heard the venerable and saintly 
William Arnold, of the old Georgia Conference, say in a 
sermon at a camp-meeting in Bibb County: "If I have had 
any success in the Christian life, and done any good as a 
minister of the gospel, more than to any other one thing I 
ascribe it to the fact that when I first started I resolved to 
pray in secret three times a day. By God's grace I have 
kept that resolution, and God has been with me, and kept 
me and blessed me until this good hour." The old man's 
(140) 



THIRTY- FIRST NIGHT 141 



radiant face, snow-white hair, and swimming blue eye, are 
before me at this moment. I mentally resolved to adopt 
the same habit; and when I have faithfully kept that reso- 
lution, I have always realized the presence of God and a 
growth in grace. My life has been a busy one, full of travel 
and contact with men; but I have found little difficulty, 
when I had a will to it, in getting opportunity thus to com- 
mune directly with God three times a day. 

Brother L. I have found that when I had on hand no 
regular work for Christ, I have ceased to grow in grace. 
The proof of our love to God is our obedience, our service. 
"If ye love me, keep my commandments." We must not 
attach too much importance to our feelings and frames, but 
do our duty. The feeling, the peace, the comfort, the joy, 
will then regulate itself. 

The Leader. Yes; cause is effect, and effect is cause, in 
this blessed sphere. \Ye obey God because we love him, 
and we love him because we obey him. That is to say, by 
works faith is made perfect, and love flows into the obedi- 
ent heart more and more. 

Sister C. I was converted when I was a girl of twelve 
years, and from that time on until I was grown the chief 
impediment in my way was worldly amusements. As their 
fascination increased my enjoyment of religion diminished. 
This is always the case, I think : we cannot serve two masters. 
The death of one very dear to me turned my thoughts and 
aspirations away from those trifles and follies, and I find 
in my religious duties and privileges a higher and sweeter 
enjoyment that excludes the least regret for the forbidden 
pleasures of the world. I am happy, happy in God. 

The Leader. Yours is the universal experience. The 
friendship of the world is enmity toward God, 



142 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



Sister R. When I began the Christian life twenty-five 
years ago, I formed the habit of reading the Bible and pray- 
ing daily, and have kept it up with more or less regularity 
ever since. The tide of my spiritual life has ebbed and 
flowed as I have maintained regular habits of devotion, or 
relaxed in punctuality. I have found that when my soul 
was replenished with grace by direct communion with my 
Lord, I had a heart and a hand for all the external duties 
of religion. 

Brother R. The Holy Spirit has shown me very clear- 
ly what are the hinderances to my growth in grace. Chief 
among them is the neglect of the reading of the Scriptures. 
When I allow my interest in the word of God to grow 
slack, I become weak and dark. 

Brother L. I want to add this word: When I fail to 
attend the public services of the Church from any prevent- 
able cause, I feel the loss. 

The Leader. Of course you do. The Church is of God, 
and he that neglects the Church neglects its Author. The 
grace that replenishes the thirsty soul flows through the 
golden pipes of the sanctuary. 

Brother S. I am a young man and a student. The in- 
fluence of irreligious associates is one of my greatest diffi- 
culties. On Sunday I took the sacrament of the Lord's 
Supper at the morning service, and the next day some 
young men of my acquaintance alluded to the fact with a 
laugh and sneer. 

The Leader. What did you do? 

Brother S. I said nothing, but quietly walked away. 

The Leader. You did the right thing. A silent rebuke 
is usually best in such cases. They will be ashamed of them- 
selves when their better natures speak within them. 



THIRTY-FIRST NIGHT. 143 



Brother S. I thank God for his goodness to me in giv- 
ing me the faith that excludes all doubt, and the love that 
casts out all fear. Secret prayer is the best means of nour- 
ishing the spiritual life — the neglect of it is the surest way 
to declension. I find that when I am faithful in the dis- 
charge of duty, and in the use of all the means of grace, 
that temptation does not affect me, my peace is as a river, 
and every day is a day of sweet rest in God and joy fulness 
through hope. 

The Leader. The passage of Scripture comes to mind 
in which the apostle says, in substance, that the possessor 
of a true faith does overcome all temptations. Will Brother 
L. find and read it? 

[Brother L. reads: "Above all, taking the shield of faith, 
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of 
the wicked." Eph. vi. 16.] 

The Leader. There it is: all the fiery darts of the 
wicked. Thank God for that sweeping word all! It means 
that when a Christian is living right the current of his re- 
ligious life is so deep and strong that temptations do not 
hinder its onward flow. It would be like throwing straws 
into the Mississippi Biver with a view to arresting its 
mighty flood. 



THIRTY-SECOND NIGHT. 



w 



Edification of the Believer. 



The Topic: "And besides this, giving all diligence, add to 
your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, 
temperance ; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, god- 
liness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly 
kindness, charity ." 2 Peter i. 5-7. 



The Leader. Faith is at the beginning of the Christian 
life, and its fruit is the development of all these graces, or 
elements, of Christian character and habitudes of Christian 
living. Where faith is strong and abiding, this develop- 
ment is certain. The gospel was ordained for success, not 
for failure. This development is continuous and harmoni- 
ous, faith being its foundation, and love, Christ-like and 
universal, its cap-stone. But I will not give an exposition 
of the words. My thought somehow has been specially 
turned to the subject of the abundant entrance into the 
everlasting kingdom which is promised as the reward of 
diligence in this work. Jesus has said that he has gone to 
prepare a place for us. That means that the place is not 
yet ready for us, and that we are not yet ready for it. In 
(144) 



TBIBTY-SECONB SIGHT. 145 



what way he is making this preparation we need not now 
inquire. Bat it is a preparation for an abundant entrance. 
The heaven he will have in readiness for us will meet ail 
the longings of the renewed soul, and when we awake in 
his likeness and presence we shall be satisfied. Another 

glil it .... ire are co-workers with him in this sub- 
i prise. In working out our own salvation we are 
helping to make the heaven we shall enjoy. In working 
for tL sal ithers we are helping to make heaven 

more a heaven. The thought thrills and humbles me 
that there may be some already in glory who were saved 
through me. This is what the Lord meant when he said 
the faithful servant should enter into his joy. It is the 

: participation in a blessedness and glory for which we 
have prayed and toiled. This thought sweetens my toil 
and - K nl with fresh resolution to be diligent in 

." lly and thankfully witness to the fact 
that these graces live and grow in the soul of the believer. 
I am steadier, stronger, happier in God than when first I 
:he Lord. I find that temptations that once troubled 
me are now powerless to lead me astray. The diligent use 
of the means of grace guarantees the attainment of all that 
God in his infinite goodness would give us. 

Brother L. It is the same admonition as that with 
which the epistle closes — to "grow in grace and in the 
knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." In that 
passage it is : u Beware lest ye also, being led away with 
the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. 
Bol !*row in grace," etc. Lest ye fall from grace, <rrow in 
grace. I: is the same admonition which, with a like mo- 
tive and with an amplitude of detail, the apostle gives so ear- 
10 



146 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



ly in the first chapter. In verse 4 he speaks of the great and 
precious promises: "that by thes^ ye might be partakers 
of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is 
in the world through lust." And the Eevised Version gives 
to the words instantly following an emphatic fitness: "Yea, 
and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence.'' 
The child of God is born to him through faith ; but if the 
newborn babe shall add nothing to his faith, he will pine 
away and die. There must be growth or death. In con- 
sidering the other passage, the general subject of growth in 
grace has been brought before us with its alternative, in- 
evitable falling away. Here the apostle gives his specific 
instructions for the promotion of the growth ; and his first 
admonition is to diligence — "giving all diligence," "add- 
ing on your part all diligence." It is the Spirit's expres- 
sion of the thought we so often and so many of *us utter in 
various forms, that if we would establish a young convert 
in his religion, and keep him from falling away, we must 
get him to work. He must not be content that his sins are 
blotted out, or even that the sin of his nature is purged and 
his heart renewed. He must engage in the work; and we 
should teach him so. "Yea, and for this very cause"— be- 
cause of the pardon of his sins, and the change of heart, 
whereby he is made a partaker of the divine nature — "for 
this very cause, adding on your part all diligence, in your 
faith supply virtue." And this word in its original signifi- 
cation is the correct rendering. It means manliness — not 
courage merely; but courage, and fortitude, and patience, 
and perseverance, and magnanimity, and all we mean when 
we speak of true manliness. Even without its connection 
with the preceding "diligence," and all the more with it, 
the word implies industry. The Church is inefficient for 



THIRTY- SECOND NIGHT 147 



the want of industry. We are lazy Christians. We are 
called to be workers together with Christ, as the Leader 
has already said; and let this saying sink deep into our 
ears. Working lazily along with Christ! God forgive us, 
and may his Spirit arouse and quicken us to diligence! 
"To virtue knowledge." We do not study God's word as 
we do our spelling-book or our arithmetic. And we are 
not ready to give to every man that asketh us a reason for 
the hope that is in us. We have need here of diligence. 
The cause of Christ in general suffers in the face of ag- 
gressive infidelity because Christian minds are not familiar 
with the knowledge of the gospel of our Lord and Savior Je- 
sus Christ. The individual Christian is puny without this 
knowledge. He is not prepared to perform his part, if he 
would, as a worker together with Christ without this knowl- 
edge. The time would fail me, here and now, to pass on 
from grace to grace as the apostle adds them with cumula- 
tive emphasis — temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly 
kindness, charity. But if these things be in us and abound, 
they make us neither idle nor unfruitful in that which the 
apostle gives as the sum of all— the knowledge of our Lord 
Jesus Christ. The knowledge of Christ is life eternal. 
W T hile we think of its eternity, let us not forget that it is 
life. Life has a significance of activity, energy, as opposed 
to indolence and inertia. In the ninth verse the apostle 
tells us in substance that without this diligence and growth 
we are fallen away; and in the tenth verse that "if we do 
these things we shall never fall" 

Mrs. M. Of all the qualities or graces mentioned in our 
topic, patience is that in which I am most lacking. I do 
not mean that I am impatient with God. I can trust him 
and wait upon him in the great trials of life. It is in deal- 



148 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



ing with, my fellow-creatures that the trial comes — the 
petty annoyances, the constant irritations that disturb the 
nerves and assail the quiet of the soul, these are the things 
that I have to contend against. 

The Leader. By faith you may obtain the victory in 
these oft-repeated encounters. 

Mrs. M. Did you ever know any one who always got the 
victory? 

The Leader. Yes, more than one. Christians can so 
live, and some do so live, that they are at all times armed 
and on the watch. They are diligent. When assailed they 
do not have to set about rallying their straggling forces, 
but repel the foe instantly. Every victory prepares the way 
for the next, and makes it easier. Victory becomes the habit 
of the trustful and watchful soul. This is the victory that 
overcometh the world, even our faith— yes, overcometh at 
all times. If it fell short of this the gospel would be a par- 
tial failure. 

Brother R At times my trouble is lack of charity. I 
get so dissatisfied with myself and with others that for the 
time I am in danger of sinning against charity, or love, at 
least in my thought. This tendency is intensified at times 
by physical indisposition. There are states of the body 
which predispose us to certain morbid mental conditions. 
My faith in God never wavers. His mercy to me has been 
so great, and his saving power has been so wonderfully be- 
stowed upon me, that it would be impossible for me to 
doubt his being or his love to sinners. But I find an im- 
pediment or a burden in this bodily infirmity of which I 
have spoken. 

The Leader. Many of us are at fault, I think, at this 
point. The bodily pain or weakness that we feel to be a 



THIRTY- SECOND NIGHT. 149 



thorn in the flesh may be a blessing in disguise. All things 
work together for good to them that love God. The debil- 
ity that put a check upon the impetuosity of a high-met- 
tled man or woman, the pain that stings the apathetic 
nature into sensibility and sympathy, the chronic disease 
that is a perpetual reminder to the too carnal disciple of 
the frailty of this life — all these, painful in themselves, are 
subservient to the true welfare of the follower of Christ. 
Dear brother, on your cross of bodily weakness or pain God 
is lifting you to the heavens. 

Mrs. S. The thought that I can be a co-worker with Je- 
sus impresses me powerfully, and inspires me with fresh 
desire and stronger purpose to be diligent in his service. 
My great sorrow is so heavy and so recent that I feel that 
I have strength only to cling to the Eock that is higher 
than I, but I do not want to be idle or unfruitful. 

The Leader. My sister, heaven will be very sweet to 
you when you get there. Because of your sorrow you will 
henceforth be able to pity and help the sorrowing. The 
Lord will comfort you that you may comfort others. 

Brother L. I feel that I am lacking in all the graces 
mentioned in our topic. My faith is too weak, my courage 
too faint, my knowledge too small, my self-command and 
patience too imperfect, my love too cold. I want to go on 
to perfection, and for this I am striving and praying. Pray 
for me. 

The Leader. My brother, there are three steps in this 
path of blessing: First, the perception of need; second, the 
earnest desire; third, the happy fulfillment. The blessing 
is nigh thee. Lay hold of it by faith — not to-morrow, not 
next week, but now. Claim now what your Lord would 
give you now. [Amen.] 



150 BIBLE SIGHTS. 



Brother K. I covet the fullness of the blessing of the 
gospel of Christ now, and the abundant entrance into the 
everlasting kingdom. All rnv hope and plea is Christ. 
Out of him is no growth and no heaven. The abundant 
entrance is the fruit of faith and the reward of fidelity to 
him. We do not merit or purchase heaven by our diligence 
— eternal life is the gift of God by our Lord Jesus Christ — 
but it pleases our Father in heaven to reward our poor 
service. I aspire to live the best Christian life possible for 
me on earth, and to reach the highest heaven possible to 
me hereafter. I trust I am making progress in this up- 
ward way. 

The Leader. Your aspiration is legitimate. The prize 
is set before us that we may fly to take it; the certainty of 
the reward is guaranteed, that we may not weary in well- 
doing; the abundant entrance is promised, to encourage us 
to be abundant in labors for the Master. The motives of 
the gospel are adequate to its glorious aim, and its rewards 
fill the measure of our aspirations. O Son of God, it was 
worth thy precious blood to purchase for us a destiny like 
this! 






J THIRTY-THIRD NIGHT, j* 

Working with Cod. 



TnE Topic: u We then, as workers together with him, beseech 
you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain." 2 Cor. 

vi. 1. 

The Leader. We are workers if we are true Christians. 
There is no place for idlers in the Lord's vineyard. Bar- 
ren fig-trees are cut down. The vows taken on joining the 
Church recognize this obligation. The Church is not mere- 
ly a place of shelter and refuge, but it is a field for labor. 
God in Christ is making a new world, and he is doing the 
work by us. We are workers together with him. With 
him? Here is a truth too high for me. As a recipient of 
his grace, I am in partnership with him. I think his 
thoughts, my heart throbs with the same feelings, my work 
is directed to the same ends. Surely our Lord sees in us a 
marvelous outcome, capacities for glorious exaltation and 
immeasurable blessedness when he admits us to such rela- 
tionship with himself. In view of such a truth as this, I 
feel an intensified purpose not to receive the grace of God 
in vain — that is, that it may not fail to purify my heart, reg- 
ulate my life, save my soul, and make me helpful to others. 

Brother B, I have been absent from the city for some 

(151) 



152 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



time, but have wished to be here. I have been in the midst 
of special religious services, and have been greatly blessed 
of the Lord. I went to see an old Christian friend in Wil- 
son County, whom I have known since my boyhood. He 
is eighty-nine years old, and I am seventy-one. As we had 
not met for many years, he did not know me at first, but 
when lie heard my name he clasped me in his arms and we 
wept together. When we parted, I left him at the gate 
leaning on his staff, saying as we clasped hands, "Farewell; 
I'll meet you in heaven.' 7 The glad day is coming soon 
when I shall go over the river. I will be no stranger there. 
My loved ones are there, and a great company of the lov- 
ing and pure-hearted with whom I took sweet counsel in 
the days that are gone. The hope of heaven is sweet, but 
I enjoy God now. This place is sweet to me. I love the 
courts of the Lord's house. I am happy in God now, 1 
w T ould be glad to do any work for Christ in my power. 

The Leader. Your work is not all done. You may 
now give the Church your ripest experience, your most 
fervent prayers, your strongest testimony, your holiest ex- 
ample. They that be planted in the courts of the Lord's home 
. . . shall bring forth fruit in old age. 

Mrs. C. The thought that I can be in reality a co- 
worker with my gracious Lord at once humbles and en- 
courages me. I earnestly desire and pray that this great 
truth may so inspire my thought and elevate my aspira- 
tions that I may be a faithful, loving co-worker with him. 
There is joy in the very conception of such a privilege, 
and the thought of it during the week has made my heart 
glow with gratitude and kindle with fresh desire to do 
good. 

The Leader. Be sure, my sister, that God will choose 



t-thil: NIGHT. 153 



1 HI t : t _ 7 ... : t : : :lr :•: z : t i : " ' : i 1 =h : ~ 1= :li: 

:r :: i: Is :: Lf'i re:-: mile :1c ~:!5 :.: 

ne working with Mm in new-ereaiiiig' this 

_ lor. v. 17-2L] We, then, as woirikeis 

__ is : '. : _ r - - : 1 : t - ': i: . . . : - 

Vf ~: ;1: :; e 'f:JLf: . :1- -: .- . : 

if- .i • " . : . . : L: : : . - ... 1 ilzi 15 ~f :.: 7 . : 

gd with hin in eternal maid. I am 

:1:~;:1: : 1: I 1_2~- - - 1: rf t.._» : . _t '--.:. 
--.-If :■: zz~ ' :.: ~ 11: :. ~lfcf : s : -::i-:.f: 
Christ IaskjootopiaTmrinethatlmajdo 
: : -1 7 :1- :'.. llufss . : :lf _i .;...:- f .i-.'.f^^- 

ex. We will join yon in that prayer in your 
d onr own. I do covet for you, m y brother, 

. f : f s: ■ - :.>.: 1. . : is : :•: s 5 : . 1 f : : 7 : .: : : 1 .1 :lii 

1 I: i ; : :..-_ ".:: :i: :....: ~f l..-f :. ifzzlf 
_ :.l :, ;:. 1 :!.:,: f ' f _«\::f :: 1 inif-fl I'ItIs- 
reix Christian will do well to have some spe- 

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li:s -is ~:::_T'f: if; 1. Lif :..-: :-::?:.:: :.:• 

if 1.T :_:7 ':-■■:::: _i;l ::-;..:■.! i-:.i. ;_::.: I2.7 



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.-.1: i i.:ir 1 ".: I :n : : r. e : : : 15 : 1 



ft 77. 5. I 1.: 't ~ : 1 1- - 1 iz ..... :1- "... 't. :!::■: 
his dbss^neeting feel that it is good to he 

[If :fr: izi :1- z.fTf:::::: :1z: Iit- ":efz zizif 



154 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



fire my heart with fresh resolution to live a true Christian 
life. 

The Leader. You are a young man, and the grace of 
God has already put you into the field as a worker. Put 
your whole heart into the work of the Lord. Nothing will 
so surely keep you faithful and happy as steady, loving 
work for Jesus. May we all have the mind that was in 
him, work with him, and at last reign with him! [Amen.] 




4k 






t£ L* 



m 



t* _* 



4 THIRTY-FOURTH NIGHT, f 

--^^^ 

Working with God. 



I ::z Horn -tinned): "We then, as workers together with 
him? beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in 
vain:' 2Cor.Ti. 1. 

The Leader, Not only ministers of the gospel, but all 

_-:ians have their work chosen for them. That is to 

plan and a purpose for every believers life. 

If I had a sphere of service that suited me, how 

exalted a life would I lead! how much good would I do! 

And all the while your work is within reach. You dream 

of treasures beyond, when lo! the diamond mine is at your 

God chooses for us, and our lives flow right on in 

appointed channel when we are led by the Spirit. I 

have asked myself, Am I willing for God to choose for me? 

This question has come to my mind with solemn emphasis 

this week. Any work for Christ and with Christ would be 

illy accepted by me. It matters not what nor where 

my ' be, so it is thus identified with him. 

Bkothee H. I fear my work as a Christian has been 
too self-centered. To save myself was at first almost my 
whole concern. The thought impresses me just now that 
had I tried to do more for others I would have done more 

for myself 

(155) 



156 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



The Leader. That suggestion is from the Holy Spirit. 
Act on it henceforth. 

Brother B. When on the first day of August, 1856, I 
was converted, my heart went forth in love and prayer for 
the whole world. That very night I was exhorting and 
persuading sinners to come to Christ. This solicitude for 
the salvation of others has measured my personal attain- 
ments in religion ever since. This truth was at one time 
deeply impressed upon my mind by reading Bishop Pierce's 
sermon on the death of Bishop Capers. Its central thought 
is that Christianity is unselfish, its spirit a public spirit. 
God put into my heart this desire to do good at the start, 
and he has kept it alive to this moment, blessed be his 
name! [Amen.] 

Sister W. It is a great honor to work with Jesus in any 
sort of service. The thought of it should excite our grati- 
tude and rekindle our zeal for the Lord. 

The Leader. If the blessed Christ were here in our 
midst to-night in bodily presence, what comfort, what en- 
couragement would we receive from his gracious words! 
But (think of it) if not barred by our lack of faith, he is 
here by his Spirit. By that Spirit he is speaking the very 
words he would speak if sitting here visibly in our midst, 
touching the same responsive chords in our hearts, and giv- 
ing us the same blessing. In this deep and sacred sense we 
work together with our Lord. 

Brother S. I regret that I lose so many opportunities 
for doing good. Considering the mighty incentives sug- 
gested by this text, this regret is greatly intensified. 

The Leader. That is well. But do not fall into de- 
spondency. The regret you feel is a blessing from God. 
The present is yours, an unending future is yours. Past 



THIRTY- FO URTH NIGHT 1 57 



mistakes may warn and humble, but should not dishearten 
you. A present honest purpose to do right puts you in the 
way to every good thing that God can give you. 

Sister C. I call to mind a saying of Dr. Edward Wads- 
worth, a former pastor of McKendree Church: "The grace 
of God is like the air — it is free for all, and enough for 
all." All the love of Christ revealed in the gospel, all the 
love imparted by the Holy Spirit to the believing heart, 
and all the good gifts of God's providence, may be included 
in the expression, "the grace of God." To receive that 
grace in vain is to fail to put our knowledge into practice 
and to obey the gracious impulses that touch our hearts. 

Brother H. (from "Promise," inWilliamson County). I 
was converted when a boy at a camp-meeting. During the 
war I got out of the path of duty. When the war was over 
I made a fresh start, the first step of which was to assist in 
repairing a dismantled church-building. I was specially 
assisted in the work by two of my neighbors, both of whom 
are now standing as watchmen on Zion's walls. As long 
as you work with Christ you will not fall away from him. 
I have working grace now, and I will have dying grace 
wdien I need it. 

Brother S. It gives me joy to think that if I work to- 
gether with Christ I cannot fail. He hath all power in 
heaven and earth. His strength will be my strength, his 
wisdom my wisdom. 

Sister B. When I am busiest in working for my Lord 
I am happiest. I do most earnestly wish to be a worker 
with him as long as I live, and to find in that work the joy 
of my life. The love of Christ constrains me to this work. 
It is love's labor, and therefore it is a delight. [Amen.] 



j-^C THIRTY-FIFTH NIGHT. a. 

~&* rgv 

Working Out Salvation. 



-<aa 



The Topic: "Work out your own salvation with fear and 
trembling; for it is God which worketh in you both to will and 
to do of his good pleasure." Phil. ii. 12, 13. 



The Leader. Great as is the difficulty of the work of 
salvation, and unspeakably disastrous as are the conse- 
quences of failure, there is no provision in the gospel for 
doubt of success if there be only earnest purpose and en- 
deavor on our part. Because God works in us we can work 
out the problem of salvation. He has been working in me 
all my life. J cannot remember when his Spirit did not 
move upon my soul. We please him when we expect and 
claim large blessings from his hand. Who shall limit the 
aspiration and achievement of a Christian whose willing 
and doing are of God? O brethren, this means that we 
may have a high ideal of Christian experience and Chris- 
tian service, and fully realize it. It means that the power 
of the Highest may be with us always, and that we may 
live every day in conscious communion with our Lord, and 
please him in all things, working the works of God. Here 
(158) 



TRIE IT- FIFTH NIGHT. 159 



is certainty, and in that thought there is joy. This is the 
work of faith with power, power that nothing can with- 
stand. Thanks be to God for certainty just where it is in- 
finitely and eternally important ! [Amen.] 

Brother D. (a visitor). My whole life is an illustration 
of the text. My first strong religious impressions were un- 
der the preaching of that great and good Baptist preacher, 
John Kerr, in Richmond, in the year 1S2S, when I was 
but a boy. Afterward I attended Trinity Methodist Church, 
then under the pastorate of the Rev. George W. Xolley, and 
found a revival going on in the old-fashioned way. J went 
forward and knelt at the altar with the penitents. It was 
many months before I was converted, and the great change 
came when I was alone in my room one day. My joy was 
great, and I said, Surely this is a dream. But I went to 
the looking-glass, and beholding my own face, it never 
looked so bright to my own eyes before. I had always 
previously had a horror of death, but from that day to this 
I have had no dread of the last enemy. My associations 
were altogether irreligious, but I found in the class-meet- 
ing the means of grace specially suited to my wants. I 
fought a hard battle every week, but on Sunday morning I 
found in the sympathy, instructions, and prayers of the 
class-room strength to help me through another seven days. 
God blessed tne class-meeting to me then, and I have loved 
it ever since. [Amen.] God by his Spirit working in me 
called me to preach, despite my great natural timidity and 
an impediment in my speech. He has kept me to this hour, 
and I humbly rejoice in hope of final triumph and eternal 
-edness. 

Brother R. The only way to retain grace is to use it. 
God works in us only so far as we work with him. He 



160 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



gives the power to will and to do, but lie neither wills nor 
works in our stead. He cannot go beyond our willing re- 
ceptivity in the bestowment of grace and in co-operative 
working. I do want to have all God's will done in me and 
by me, I tremble and rejoice at the magnitude of the 
blessing embraced in the good pleasure of my God con- 
cerning me. 

Brother E. The thought that it is God who is in all 
this work of salvation gives me a joyful sense of security. 
He will not fail. He begins the work, and he will finish 
it. If any fail of salvation it is their own fault. God so- 
licits every soul, but forces none. There is hope for every 
man who will yield to God. God works and we work; the 
result is salvation, salvation present and eternal. 

Sister C. The more I try to do for my Lord, the hap- 
pier I am. I do enjoy his service, but am conscious that 
there is a greater fullness of blessing for me and a more 
fruitful service. Pray for me. 

Brother L. When I was a boy I came in from the coun- 
try one Sunday morning for the purpose of attending Mc- 
Kendree Church. I was a stranger, and did not know 
whether the church I entered was the right one. The 
preacher took the words of our topic as his text. He said: 
"The first part of it looks as if salvation is by works alone, 
as some do hold ; the second part looks as if it was all of God, 
as others do hold. The truth lies between these extremes : it 
is God and man working together." This sounded like good 
Methodist doctrine, and I felt sure I was in the right place. 
The fear and trembling — that is, the painstaking, the care- 
fulness — has reference to our own fidelity and perseverance. 
God will do his part. All the resources of his power and 
love are at the command of the obedient heart for the work 



THIRTY- FIFTH XIGHT. 161 



of salvation. In view of this glorious truth, I ought to be 
more holy and more useful. God help me so to be ! [Amen.] 

Brother C. I have been favored with helpful Christian 
influence all my life. My father and mother were Chris- 
tians, and led me to Jesus in early childhood. I promised 
my dying mother that I would pray three times a day as 
long as I live, and I have kept that promise. 

The Leader. Stand by it to the end, and you will not 
fall. To pray three times a day is to commune with God 
and have your soul replenished from on high. Prayer is 
not a mere attitude or form of words. 

Brother C. lam glad I came here to-night. My heart 
has been warmed and my faith strengthened. My father 
is a preacher and my mother a good woman. For a time I 
trusted in their piety to save me, but found at last that I 
was a sinner, and must work out my own salvation or be 
lost. Every man must give account of himself to God. 

Brother D. I am impressed with the truth that God 
has given me moral freedom, and with it moral responsibil- 
ity. The words of the topic are deeply solemn to me: 
"Work out your own salvation." 

Buother R. I am an old man, and near the end of my 
work and warfare on earth. God has been with me as a 
believer for half a hundred years, and will keep me to the 
end. The thought is very sweet to me that I soon shall 
meet again the loved and the lost who have gone before. 
It is good to be here; it will be better up there. 

Brother B. Before my conversion my whole soul had 
been absorbed with a passion for professional distinction 
and for the pleasures of the world. I have had experience 
of life in both its worldly and its religious phases, and my 
testimony is that true blessedness is to be found only in re* 
11 



V& BIBLE MGHTS, 



ligion. This conviction deepens, this experience brightens^ 
as the years go on, God works in me to will and to do, 
and I am joyful in the thought that, receiving not his grace 
in vain, I can please him who bought me with his blood. 

The Leader. Spirit of grace, work in us, that we may 
work for thee; strengthen us, that we may strengthen oth- 
ers; comfort us, that we may give comfort; give to us free* 
ly, that we may freely give I [Amen.] 



flsF^llF *W V m $F'® 



Jl> 



^^hTrty^s i xt h ~nTg ht! g# 

The Best Gifts. 



The Topic: "Covet earnestly the best gifts.'' 1 1 Cor. xii. 31, 



The Leaded. These five short words are all weighty — 
even the definite article "the" has special force as it is 
used here. The b«st gifts! We prize a gift because of the 
giver. Even the smallest trinket is held sacred and price- 
less when it is love's gift. All gifts are from God — our 
being and our blessings, our lives and their possibilities, 
grace and glory, are the gilts of our heavenly Father to his 
children. There is no ground for pride with even the most 
favored: we have nothing that we have not received from 
the Lord. The gifts mentioned here are, I presume, both 
the extraordinary gifts of the apostolic age, and the sancti- 
fied natural endowments that equip all believers for the 
Christian service required of them. The gift of healing, 
the gift of tongues, the gift of interpretation, the gift of 
prophesying, authenticated the divine message of the apos- 
tolic Church. These were what are called miraculous gifts 
— the authentication by miracles of a revelation. Now that 

-163) 



164 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



we have a completed canon of Scripture, revelation in this 
sense has ceased. Have miracles also ceased? You may 
have your own opinions on that point. To me it seems 
clear that the wonders of this Pentecostal age are the mir- 
acles of spiritual power that attend the gospel wherever 
preached in its purity and wherever brought to bear upon 
the world through the activities and ministries of a body 
of believers exercising their gifts for the edification of ihe 
Church and the salvation of sinners. The greatest gift of 
all is the gift of prophesy— not in the sense of foretelling 
future events, but of bearing testimony from personal expe- 
rience of the grace of God in Christ Jesus. [Read 1 Cor. 
xiv. 24-25, and consult the whole chapter.] There would 
not be many unsaved sinners in Nashville if every one of 
us who have the form of godliness had also the power. The 
meaning of our text might be paraphrased for our present 
purpose thus: Seek such bestowments of grace, and adopt 
such habits of Christian living, as will conduce to the at- 
tainment of the highest character and the largest measure 
of usefulness possible to you under the gospel. Let God 
make the best of you that he can. God's best! Brethren 
and sisters, God's best is good enough. But he cannot give 
you his best without your consent. There must be an open 
hand to grasp the proffered gift. Therefore the Apostle 
says," Covet earnestly the best gifts" — that is, your hearts 
must burn within you; you must have an absorbing, all- 
controlling desire and purpose to be and to do all that is 
possible to you by the grace of God. The best ! God's best> 
your best. It will take all eternity to tell what it means. 

Brother R. This great truth of all truths blots minor 
thoughts from my mind to-night — eternal life is the gift of 
God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This gift of all gifts 



THIRTY-SIXTH SIGHT. 165 



is the surest of all. None shall pluck us out of his hand. 
We live because he lives. We will live while he lives. 
We will reign while lie reigns in glory. He hath loved is 
and given himself to us and for us. This thought exclu^s 
all others, and I feel like singing: 

Content with beholding his face, 

My all to his pleasure resigned, 
No changes of season or place 

Could make any change in my mind. 
While blessed with a sense of his love, 

A palace a toy would appear; 
And prisons would palaces prove. 

If Jesus would dwell with me there. 

Miss S. In contact with Christ you get wisdom, power, 
love. The lines of daily duty start from the mercy -seat, 
where we commune with the living Christ. If you walk 
witli him, he will lead you whither you should go. If you 
work together with him, you will find and do the very 
work he wants you to do. Daily communion with Christ 
is the best directory for practical Christian service. The 
resurrection-life of the Leliever is beyond the reach of exter- 
nal calamity. It is a life hid with Christ in God, untouched 
by disease, or pain, or dead, Christ living in us. The 
depth of meaning in those words was revealed to me, and 
since then I have had heaven on earth. By that I mean 
to say that the sweet, sacred, abiding consciousness of the 
love of God makes heaven wherever we are. 

The Leader. The text seems to imply that, though the 
Spirit gives as he will, yet believers may freely follow out 
and engage in one tiling in preference to another [1 Cor. 
xiv. 26], as the whole sphere of Christian service cannot 
be filled by any one person. Live close to Christ, watch 



166 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



unto prayer, follow the lead of divine Providence, and you 
will find the way in which your gifts can be made most ef- 
fectual. 

Miss G. Our Christian workers at home and our mis- 
sionaries abroad lose immensely by discounting the gifts 
that are bestowed upon the followers of Christ in this age 
of the world. There has been no withdrawal of any gra- 
cious promise, there is no abatement of power except where 
there is a decrease of faith. The Pentecost and its gifts 
came to stay, and they are with us now. We may be as 
fully furnished for our work as the Apostles were for theirs. 

The Leader. There are shining gifts, commanding gilts 
■ — the gift of popular eloquence from pulpit or platform, the 
gift of literary success, the gift of a winsome manner. These 
are for comparatively a few. If we desire these gifts, it 
will be for us to ask ourselves why. Is it that we may glo- 
rify God, or that we may glorify ourselves? The sin of 
Simon Magus may be in our hearts at ihe very time when 
we are persuading ourselves that we are zealous for the 
Lord our God. The vitiated motive has crippled or ruined 
many a grand career. Some who begun in the Spirit have 
ended in the flesh. Let us examine ourselves as to our real 
motives. If the heart be right before God, all will be clear. 
It is Jesus himself who says, "If thine eye be single, thy whole 
body shill be full of light." 

Buotheh L. "Covet earnestly the best gifts/' I am glad 
the apostle uses this word covet as in reference to desire of 
the heavenly gifts; for no word is more expressive of a hu- 
man desire which rests not in the passive emotion, but de- 
velops into grasping activity. And in such a time as this, 
when worldly covetousness is having a great revival, a 
grand season of awakening all over our land, and does not 



THIRTY- SIXTH SIGHT 167 



OS by here in our own city, the word is peculiarly »<*• 
niucant. What a human being covets he will ask for and 

seek alter. He will think over it, may lose some sleep 
about it. He will scheme to bring about the fruition of 
his covetous desires, lie will often succeed, because ''he 
that seeketh hndeth." "Take heed, and beware of covet- 
ousness," says our Savior, with reference to worldly goods. 
But now his Apostle bids us " covet/'' and with a word of 
emphasis, "covet earnestly.'' But covet what? Not the 
^xnost eligible corner lots, or the best bank stocks, or the 
best gifts of worldly ambition; but the best spiritual gifts 
of God. Be net anxious, and covet not earnestly to acquire 
worldly properties; for here we have no continuing 
city. We seek one to come. Lay up your treasures in that- 
permanent habitation. As the discussion has proceeded 
this evening, my mind has been turned to a passage in the 
life of Abraham, in a recent Sunday-school lesson. "The 
friend of God" was returning from the slaughter of the kings, 
laden with great worldly spoil, which had been taken from 
Sodom, and retaken from the robbers by Abraham. He 
was met by the king of Sodom, a fair type of the wealth of 
this world. "And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, 
Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And 
Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand 
unto the Lord, the most high God, the pma& ~ ' ezven 
and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to a shoe- 
latchet, and that I will not take any tiling that is thine r 
lest thou shouklst say, I have made Abram rich."' A '.::.- 
ham had a Friend who was the possessor of heaven and 
earth; and Abraham was content to trust that rich Friend 
to make him rich, or feed him in poverty. 

Miss A, In the text I seem to hear the echo of rnv Mas- 



168 BIBLE NIGHTS. 



tei^s words, Auk, and ye shall receive. The injunction to ask 
for the best gifts is an implied promise that the best shall 
be given. Indeed, the best can be given to us only as we 
covet it. Impartation cannot go beyond receptivity. The 
best never is thrust upon an unwilling soul, or given to 
the indifferent. The correlative of earnest desire here is 
earnest endeavor. 

The Leader* The Greek word here rendered "earnest^ 
]y" is that from which we get our word "zeal." This means 
ardor, passion, intensity* There comes a time when the 
soul of a believer, fully consecrated to the Lord, burns with 
a consuming zeal to do good; when it is eager for service,, 
redeeming every precious moment of time; when it is anx- 
ious to pluck sinners as brands from the burning — when, in 
a word, it will not, cannot be satisfied with any thing short 
of the fullness of God, when it gives all that it can offer, 
claims all that is promised, and delights in doing all that 
it can do, and the best that it can doj by the exercise of 
every power of body and soul, guided by the teachings of 
the Bible interpreted by the Holy Spirits There is no need 
that any true Christian shall fail to find his proper place^ 
or waste his life in futile effort. This implied promise is 
not a lottery ticket, that may draw a prize, or more likely 
a blank: it is a properly indorsed sight draft on Almighty 
Goodness, Wisdom, and Power. With such resources in 
reach, what manner of persons ought we to be! With such 
possibilities before us, how should we exult in the glorious 
gospel of the grace of God I 




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